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New Pottery from the Psychro Cave and Its Implications for Minoan Crete

Author(s): L. Vance Watrous


Source: The Annual of the British School at Athens, Vol. 99 (2004), pp. 129-147
Published by: British School at Athens
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/30071532 .
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NEW POTTERY FROM THE PSYCHRO CAVE AND ITS
IMPLICATIONS FOR MINOAN CRETE'

(PLATES 4-10)

In memoryofMervynPopham

INTRODUCTION

IN 1999, while working in the storerooms of the Herakleion Museum, Mervyn Popham
discovered two boxes (labelled F 5 and F 6) containing pottery from David Hogarth's
1899 excavations in the Psychro Cave.' With typical courtesy, he wrote to me of his
discovery and suggested that I publish this new material as a supplement to my recent
study of the finds from the Cave.s
Following his advice, I examined this pottery in the Stratigraphical Museum at Knossos
duringJanuary 2000. I found that box F 5 held 265 individual sherds and a fragmentary
stone vase, and that box F 6 had 92 sherds or whole vases. Almost all of the pottery in
the two boxes was from high quality decorated vases, making it likely that they were
products of workshops connected with metropolitan centres. As Popham had realized, all
the pottery in F 6 was from the excavations at Psychro. Inside the box there was a single
piece of paper marked '"PXQ6'and a pithos (PLATE4 b) with 'ClkLtov WuXQ6'written in
dark paint on its inner rim. Several of the F 6 sherds joined with vases already published
from Hogarth's excavation at the cave, and thus corroborated this identification. On the

1 I should like to thank the British School at Athens for Santorini Eruption (Aegaeum, 17; Liege, 1997).
permission to publish this pottery, and David Blackman van Effenterre, Palais = H. van Effenterre, Le Palais de
for suggesting that I submit this manuscript to the BSA. Mallia et la citerminoenne(Rome, 1980).
Many people made this study possible. Eleni Hatzaki, Hogarth = D. Hogarth, 'The Dictaean Cave', BSA 6
Curator at Knossos, and Eleni Banou of the Herakleion (1899-1900), 94-116.
Ephoreia of the Greek Archaeological Service helped Mountjoy = P. Mountjoy, 'The Marine Style pottery
arrange my study of the pottery in the Stratigraphic of LMIB/LHIIA: towards a corpus', BSA 79 (1984), 61-
Museum at Knossos. David Wilson, Carl Knappett and 219.
Eleni Hatzaki lent me their expertise on Early Minoan, Pelon = O. Pelon, Fouilles exicuties i Mallia (Etudes
Protopalatial and LM III fabrics, respectively, while I was Cr6toises, 16, Paris, 1970).
working on the pottery. Several Knossos excavators, Popham = M. Popham, TheMinoan UnexploredMansion
including Peter Warren, and Nicholas Coldsteam showed at Knossos(Oxford, 1984).
me pottery deposits they were studying in the Psychro= L. V. Watrous, The Cave Sanctuary ofZeus at
Stratigraphical Museum. At Malia, Olivier Pelon allowed Psychro(Aegaeum 15, Liege, 1996).
me to study pottery from the French excavations in and Special abbreviations used in the catalogue and in FIG.1:
around the palace that he is preparing for publication. B = burnished inclus = inclusions
At Pacheia Ammos Philip Betancourt showed me a BSJ= bridge-spouted jar int = interior
number of examples of local fine ware from Pseira. D. = diameter mono = monochrome
Aleydis Van de Moortel read a draft of this paper and DB = deep bowl SB = slipped and
made several helpful suggestions. Drawings are by burnished
Roxana Docsan. Photographs are by the author. The ext = exterior SJ = stirrup jar
Institute for Aegean Prehistory generously granted frag. = fragment TSR = Tortoise Shell
financial support for this study in 2000 and 2oo01. Ripple
Abbreviations in addition to those in standard use: HM = Herakleion Museum
Driessen-Macdonald =J. Driessen and C. Macdonald, 2
Hogarth.
The Troubled Island: Minoan Crete before and after the 3 Psychro.

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130 L. VANCE WATROUS

other hand, the pottery in box F 5 was not so straightforward.While F 5 had sherds that
joined with vases in F 6, the box also contained a wooden ticket labelled 'Hogarth Kvoooio
tirit' and two decayed pieces of paper reading 'Kvoi6bg Xrntrtr' and 'Kvwoo6q Xmttut
Ayytxi EXoi1 1900oo'. It seems, therefore, that F 5 held sherds from Psychro and bagged
pottery from Hogarth's excavations of two LM I A houses on the Gypsades Hill at Knossos.4
With time, the individual bags had apparently disintegrated and the pottery from the two
sites became mixed.
Consequently, for box F 5, I needed to differentiate the Psychro pottery from that of
Hogarth's excavation at Knossos. Initially, I was able to identify some Psychro sherds
using the following criteria: (1) they joined with sherds in box F 6, (2) they were votives
(e.g. nos. 14, 15, 52, and 121 in the catalogue below), and (3) they retained traces of a
distinctive black mould characteristic of finds from the Psychro Cave.5 Nevertheless, most
of the F 5 pottery remained unidentified; the sherds could have come from the excavations
at Knossos or at Psychro Cave. Hence, in order to distinguish the sherds from Psychro, it
was necessary to identify the non-Knossian vases in the box.
For this reason, I arranged to study a large number of fine ware vases at Malia the
following year (20oo01). As the closest metropolitan centre to Psychro, Malia was an obvious
candidate for the production source of some of the pottery dedicated at the Cave. That
same year I was also able to study examples of local Protopalatial and Neopalatial pottery
at Knossos. In my month-long examination of the pottery from Malia, Knossos and boxes
F 5 and F 6, I looked especially at the fabric and inclusions (under a io power lens) as
well as at the surface treatment, paint and motifs. I also returned to my own survey notes
on the MM III-LM I pottery from the Lasithi Plain.6On this basis, I was able to tentatively
identify the Neopalatial fine ware fabrics typical of Malia, Knossos, and the Lasithi Plain.
Of course, these groupings remain tentative, since the sherds have not been subjected to
petrographic analysis. These three fabric groups are described below.
At Malia, MM II-III vases are made in a fine clay that is red in colour (or grey,
depending on firing), slightly gritty, hard-fired, with tiny mica and haematite inclusions.7
This fabric continues into LM I and LM III when it usually is buff-slipped. However, the
primary fine ware LM I fabric at Malia is different: it varies from a light brown (creamy
coffee-coloured) to a pale yellow, and is soft, porous, and extremely finely sorted, except
for a few micaceous specks. Most small LM I shapes, e.g. cups, jugs, and bowls, are not
slipped or burnished on the exterior. On the other hand, the larger Malia vases, such as
flasks and jugs, are often given a distinctive high surface polish or burnish. Coarser shapes,
i.e. jars and pithoi, are made in a dark red or brown clay, with chunks of red schist,
quartz, and occasionally white slivers that look like shell fragments. Dark paint is normally
brown, light washy brown, or reddish-brown and has a matt surface. Unlike Knossian
products, the Maliote paint is not usually a thick glossy black and therefore does not

4 D. Hogarth, 'Knossos. Early town and cemeteries', 5 Hogarth 96, 97, 99 describes strata within the cave
BSA 6 (1899-1900), 7o-84. Hogarth's excavations at as consisting of a black mould mixed with ashes, pottery
Psychro (1899) and at Knossos (1900) were both and other artefacts.
published in volume 6 of the BSA and so may have been 6 This survey was published in my monograph, Lasithi:
studied in Herakleion at the same time. The large A History of Settlementon a Highland Plain in Crete(Hesp.
amounts of (uncatalogued) Knossian LM I A pottery in Supp. 18; Princeton, 1982).
F 5 also points to this conclusion. Driessen-Macdonald 7 Carl Knappett was helpful in suggesting that several
164 suggest that box F 6 contains pottery from Hogarth's MM II-III vases in the catalogue above were of Maliote
1900ooexcavation at Knossos. This is incorrect (see above). production.

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NEW POTTERY FROM THE PSYCHRO CAVE 131

effectively contrast with its background. Local Maliote LM II and III Ai vases imitate
Knossian examples in their shapes and decoration, but their fabric retains its distinct local
light brown colour, often with dark and micaceous inclusions.
The LM I A fine ware fabric at Knossosis buff or pale buff in colour and occasionally light
brown or pinkish, usually hard fired, with specks of white quartz and red haematite. The
exterior of fine decorated cups, jugs, and bowls may have a buff slip (or self-slip) and may
be burnished or unburnished. Dark paint is usually glossy, warm and unfaded, with the
result that there is a high contrast between the paint and the buff background. Larger
shapes, such as jars, amphorae, and flower pots, are made in a hard buff clay, occasionally
pink or light brown, with many angular or rounded inclusions (of all sizes) of red haematite,
and a few bits of quartz, and are usually unslipped. In LM II and LM III A1, Knossian
vases differ from Maliote products in that their fabric is a fine white or pale greenish colour.
Neopalatial fabrics from the Lasithi Plain can be easily distinguished from the more
sophisticated Knossian and Maliote products. Local Lasithi fine ware fabric varies from a
tan to brownish buff to orange, is relatively soft and coarse, with inclusions of quartz,
mica and distinctive rounded grey granules, and often has a grey core. Medium coarse
shapes are red or brown at the core or throughout, with an occasional buff exterior. The
large amounts of grey granules and quartz make this fabric quite friable.
Using the fabric groups described above, I reexamined the pottery in F 5 and was able
to tentatively sort out three groups of Neopalatial fine ware fabrics in the box: one group
from Knossos, one from Malia, and one from the Lasithi Plain. On the assumption that
these latter two groups came from the Cave, I was able to identify 56 fragmentary Psychro
vases in box F 5.8 A small group of vases (Malia-East Cretein the catalogue below) could be
distinguished as non-Knossian, coming either from Malia or perhaps from East Crete. Most
of the remaining 209 sherds in F 5, largely LM I A decorated cups and jugs, are presumed
to come from Hogarth's Houses on the Gypsades Hill at Knossos. A number of uncertain
examples (from Malia or Knossos?) in F 5 were left uncatalogued-hence the entries in the
catalogue below represent a minimal list of the Psychro vases from boxes r 5 and r 6.

CATALOGUE

I have listed the vases in the catalogue (nos. 1-179) by provenance groups in rough
chronological order as an aid to the wider discussion following the catalogue. The number
in parentheses within each catalogue entry is my original study number, marked in pencil
on the pottery. My study numbers (1)-(92) come from box F 6 (not counting joins). Entries
marked as (Mlo6), (Mlo7), etc. refer to the catalogue numbers in Mountjoy. All
measurements are in centimetres.
The photographs were taken in 2000, before I had studied the Malia pottery, and thus
a number of unnumbered vases from F 5 that probably come from Hogarth's excavation
at Knossos are included in them. Vases from Psychro in the photographs are labelled with
their catalogue numbers below. In cases where a single vase is represented by multiple
sherds, repetitive examples have been left out of the photographs.

8 Of course this leaves open the possibility that a number 6, where all the pottery is from Psychro, I was unable to
of the Knossian MM III-LM I sherds in F 5 might have recognize any Knossian vase earlier than LM I B, except for
come from Psychro. There is no way to test this possibility a single late LM I A piece (76). This pattern suggests that
directly because the pottery in F 5 is mixed. However, in F the situation in F 5 may have been the same.

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132 L. VANCE WATROUS

POTTERY

Malia

1.(187) Straight sided cup, rim frag. D. lo.o. Hard, monochrome all over; two white floral branches;
red, fine. Int mono, red, mottled black; ext matt red, three white bands. MM III. PLATE4 (f).
white line below rim. MM I B-II. PLATE 4 (d). 16.(123) Amphora(?), two body frags. Hard,
2.(27). Small closed shaped, base. Two curled feet yellowish, dark specks. Red splatters in; reddish
preserved. Hard grey clay. Exterior painted a brown background out; white foliate shoulder band,
lustrous dark. Cf. H. and M. van Effenterre, Fouilles petaloid loop, floral lines. Cf. van Effenterre, Palais,
executiesaiMallia (etudes Cr~toises, 22; Paris, 1976), ii. 531, fig. 766. MM III-LM I A. PLATE 7 (C).
pl. 27. 85. MM I B-II. PLATE10 (a). 17.(189) Large jug or amphora, body frag. Th. 0.9.
3*(5) Jug(?), shoulder frag. Hard, reddish grey, Hard, greyish buff, white, dark angular inclusions,
quartizite inclus. Multiple body bands and arcades B. TSR, thin white band added over black body
in white. Burnt. MM I B-II. PLATE 4 (d). band. MM III-LM I A. PLATE 8 (a).
4.(o109) Cup, rim frag. Hard, reddish, fine. Conical 18.(217) Large jug, or amphora, body frag. Soft,
profile. Mono red in and out (misfiredblack in parts). brown, fine, B. Brown TSR, two bands, white line
White rim band in and out. MM I B-II. FIG. 1. PLATE added on lower band. MM III-LM I A. PLATE5 (g).
4 (d). 19.(157) Jug or amphora, body frag. Soft, fine,
5.(45) Jug, neck and spout. Soft, greyish, fine clay. brown, SB, B. Dark brown wavy line, banded TSR.
Wash black paint, traces of added white. Pellet eye MM III-LM I A. PLATE 4 (e).
at rim. MM I-II. PLATE 4 (f). 20.(238) Juglet, body frag. Soft, light brown, mica;
6.(39) Jup, slightly rounded profile, rim frag. Hard, SB? Dark TSR, light and dark brown bands. Not
fine, fired dark. Greyish (sintered?) brown int, and illustrated. MM III-LM I A.
ext; concentric pendant semicircles with petals. MM 21.(156) Jug, shoulder frag. Pale buff, soft. Black to
II-III. FIG. 1. PLATE4 (d). red background; white neck band, foliate branch.
7.(38) Straight-sided cup, rim frag. Fired hard, grey. Not illustrated. MM III-LM I A.
Black background (with reddish spotting), white 22.(237) Jug, shoulder frag. Soft, light brown,
floral spray. Design similar to Psychro,pl. xiii g, lower porous, mica, B. Black matt TSR and band. Wiped
middle. MM II-III. PLATE 4 (d). interior. Not illustrated. MM III-LM I A.
8.(110o) Straight sided cup, rim/wall frag. Hard, red, 23.(o102) Pithos, rim frag. Rim D. 22.0. Hard, coarse,
fine. Mono red in, out; spray in white. MM III. FIG. red and white inclus, SB, B. Rim band in; black half
1. PLATE 4 (d). circles on lip; pendant semicircles on rim; black neck
9.(194) Jug, shoulder frag. Soft, light brown, slightly band, alternating diagonal lines in white. MM III-
micaceous, white inclus; B. TSR. MM III. PLATE 8 LM I A. PLATE9 (e).
(h). 24.(190o) Jug, shoulder frag. Soft, orange, white
lo.(165) Bowl, base frag. Hard, orange buff, fine. specks, slightly micaceous; burnished to a glossy
Two red bands and imitation metallic ring on base finish. TSR, bands, swirly lines in brown. MM III-
inside; Brown TSR all over ext; base band. MM LM I A. PLATE7 (e).
III. PLATE4 (h). 25.(225) Bowl, rim/wall frag. Hard, buff; B. Streaky
11 .(61) Jug, shoulder and body frags. Hard, buff, brown interior; TSR, bands outside. FIG. 1.
slightly coarse (quartzite,schist, shells). SB, brilliantly 26.(239) Jug(?), body frag. Hard, light brown, fine,
burnished. TSR on neck and shoulder; white lines with white specks and mica. B exterior. TSR in a
added over brown bands. MM III. FIG. 2. PLATE5 rich honey brown colour. MM III-LM I A. PLATE
(a). 10 (d).
12.(67/218) Amphora(?), body frags. Brown, dark 27.(145) Cup, base/wall frag. Base D. 5.0. Orange,
inclus, SB, B. Glossy light red TSR, bands. MM III. very hard, grey core. Brilliant B. TSR and bands
PLATE 5 (f. both in and out. MM III-LM I A. PLATES 4 (e), 5
13.(154) Bridge spouted jar(?), body frag. Soft, fine (h).
buff. Matt black background, large white foliate 28.(193) Jug, shoulder frag. Soft, brownish buff,
band. MM III. PLATE4 (d). white and micaceous inclus, B. Reddish TSR, dark
14.(177) Stand, base/wall frag. Base D. 4.0. Hard, band. MM III-LM I A. PLATE 6 (d).
brown, white specks. Two white floral branches on 29.(240) Jug(?), body frag. Hard, fine, brown, white
a light brown background. MM III. PLATE4 (f). specks, B. Blurred TSR, brown, red and bands
15.(178) Stand, base/wall frag. Base D. 5.o. Hard, (added lines) on light brown background. MM III-
reddish brown. Ridged base. Glossy dark LM I A. PLATE10 (d).

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NEW POTTERY FROM THE PSYCHRO CAVE 133

6
151

25

60

67 38 164

70

46

FIG. 1. Scale: 4, 6, 151, 8, 25, 60, 67, 38 at 1: 3; 164, 70o,46 at 1: 4.

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134 L. VANCE WATROUS

58
96

148

49

11

61
FIG. 2. Scale: 58, 148, 61, 49, 11 at 1: 4; 96 at 1: 3-

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NEW POTTERY FROM THE PSYCHRO CAVE 135

30.(155) Bowl, body frag. Hard, light red, dark 44.(223) Jug(?), body frag. Hard, buff, dark inclus,
specks. White foliate branch and bands on brown slipped buff, B. Glossy brown TSR, two bands,
background. MM III-LM I A. PLATE 4 (C). added white line, wavy band below. LM I A. PLATES
31.(185.) Jar(?), body frag. Th. 1.o. Hard, orange 5 (h), 8 (h).
buff, large red round inclus, B. Int surface left rough. 45.(231) Bowl, rim frag. Pale yellow, gritty. Red rim
Dark brown TSR, bands (with added white line). band in and out, leaves. LM I. PLATE 4 (f).
Cf. H. and M. van Effenterre, Fouilles extcuties & 46.(55) Amphora, rim/handle/body frags. Light
Mallia (ttudes Cr~toises, 17; Paris, 1969), pl. 59. brown, mica, B. Olive sprays, handle stripes. Cf.
85. MM III-LM I A. PLATE 5 (a). Pelon, pl. 22. 1. LM I. FIG. 1. PLATE7 (b).
32.(192) Open shape, body frag. Hard, reddish, grey 47.(51) Amphora, rim/handle/body frag. Light
core, white and dark specks. Smoothed int; bright brown to orange, fine, B. Crackled brown painted
orange swirling horizontal lines (marbling?) on ext. rim and shoulder band (with added white band),
MM III-LM I. PLATE o10(a). spoked spirals on shoulder. Cf. van Effenterre, Palais,
33.(126) Jug, shoulder frag. Hard, buff, dark specks, ii. 532, fig. 768. LM I A. PLATES5 (b), O10 (a).
SB, B. Dark band over neck ridge, TSR below. MM 48.(71) Jug, rim frag. Soft, pale yellow, porous. Red
III-LM I A. PLATE 8 (h). neck band, TSR. LM I A. FIG.3. PLATE 9 (h).
34.(66) Straight-sided cup, body/base frag. Hard, 49"(74) Jug, neck/shoulder frag. Light brown, fine,
orange, fine, well burnished. Dark mono in; TSR SB, B. Brown rim and neck bands, pendant
and white band added over brown band at base. semicircles, foliate band, wavy band; added white
MM III-LM I A. PLATE 4 (c). dots and line on neck band. LM I A. FIG. 2. PLATES
35.(232) Jug, body frag. Hard greyish brown to buff, 4 (c),8 (a).
SB, B. Chocolate brown tendril, bands. LM I A. 50.(50) Jug, rim/handle, shoulder frag. Soft, light
PLATE 5 (d). brown, slightly gritty. Matt brown neck band, dots,
36.(20) Flask, seven body frags. Hard, red, mica; band, spirals. LM I A. PLATES 4 (c), 7 (b), 8 (a).
slipped buff, B. Brownish red paint. Central star, 51.(80) Jug, five body frags. Hard, darkish buff, SB,
dots, two encircling foliate bands; pendant foliate B. Neck and body bands, foliate band on shoulder.
below handles. Cf. Pelon, pl. 2o. 2, 4 (phase III A). LM I. PLATE8 (g).
LM I A. FIG. 3. PLATE6 (C). 52.(103) Stand, two body frags. Lower portion made
37.(21) Flask, seven body frags (including a portion from a coarse (white and dark inclus) pithos fabric;
of the base). Soft, pinkish buff; slipped buff, B. Two upper part made from a fine, hard buff clay. Slipped
concentric registers of conglomerate pattern around buff and brilliantly burnished. Dark bands with
a central star. White wavy lines added over red added white bands above and below the moulded
bands. Same vase as Psychro, pl. xviii g. Cf. J. rib. A clump of vine leaves painted on stem. Cf.
Deshayes and A. Dessenne, Fouillesexicuties&Mallia van Effenterre, Palais, i. 206, fig. 287. LM I A. PLATE
(Etudes Cr~toises, 12; Paris, 1959), pl. 57 h 7 (a), (h).
(deuxieme Cpoque,premiere phase). LM I A. PLATE 53.(91) Pithoid jar, shoulder. Hard, buff, large red
7(f). schist inclus, slipped buff; B. Large running spirals
38.(18//52) Askos, upper half. Hard, red, mica, SB. above brown and red bands. LM I A. PLATE10 (d).
Brown band of V-shaped tendrils. FIG. 1. LM I A. 54.(48) Large jar, body frag. Hard, coarse (quartzite,
PLATE7 (g). schist inclus), light brown. B exterior; buff slip; rough
39.(43) Jug or amphora, four body frags. Hard, light interior. Brown running spirals, bands (with lines
brown; dark, white specks; unburnished. Dark added in white) and dots. Cf. Pelon, pl. 20. 1 c. LM
brown floral band; banded TSR below; bands of I. PLATE7 (d).
added white. LM I A. PLATE 7 (e). 55.(60/107) Jug or amphora(?), shoulder frag. Hard,
4o.(16) Bucket, body frag. Hard, light red, mica, reddish buff, coarse (quartzite,schist, shells). Slipped
quartz inclus. Brown splash in; foliate band, banding buff; reddish brown single foliate sprays on shoulder;
out. LM I. FIG.3. PLATE 4 (c). bands; running spirals on body. Cf. F. Chapouther
41.(1i8) Jug, neck, body frags. Soft, buff, SB, B. and P. Demargne, Fouilles exicuties&Mallia, (ftudes
Ribbing on wall. Glossy brown band (added white Cr~toises, 12; Paris 1962), pl. 42- 2328. LM I.
band), running spirals, TSR. LM I A. PLATE 4 (g). PLATES 6 (f), 9 (a).
42.(174) Jug, shoulder frag. Soft, pale buff, fine. Dark 56.(so8) Amphora, neck/shoulder and body frags.
brown vertical foliate branch. LM I. PLATE 8 (h). Hard reddish brown, coarse (mica, quartzite, schist,
43.(44) Trefoiljug, rim/body/handle frag. Hard, light shells). Red to black neck band, leaves on shoulder;
brown, fine; slipped buff and finely burnished. bands below. LM I. FIG.4. PLATE 6 (f).
Brown rim, body bands, wavy line; added white 57.(131) Jug, neck/shoulder frag. Soft, orange buff;
handle stripes and body bands. LM I A. PLATE 5 (b). grey core; dark inclus, shells. B shoulder, ridging

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136 L. VANCE WATROUS

on neck. Black rim band in and out; TSR below. red inside to just above base and out; brown (with
LM I. PLATE10 (a). added white line) and red bands, floral branches
58.(201) Open shape (jug?), rim/wall frag. Hard, below. LM I A. FIG. 1. PLATE4 (h).
dark buff; dark and white inclus; B exterior. Rim 68.(134) Stirrup jar, shoulder frag. Hard, silty,
band in, out. Dots below rim; floral branches. LM orange buff, white, micaceous specks, SB, smoothed.
I. FIG. 2. PLATE8 (a). Brown bands on spout, wavy lines below. Probably
59.(89) Jug, body frag. Hard semi-coarse (white, LM III A. PLATE8 (h4).
dark, shell inclus) SB, B. Floral branches in brown 69.(142) Stirrup jar(?), body frag. Soft buff, dark
paint. LM I. PLATE5 (d). specks, mica, B. Alternating stacked arcs, three
6o.(9) Cup, body frag. Hard, brown, fine; buff bands. LM III A. PLATE6 (e).
slipped; brilliantly burnished. Painted a streaky 70o.(47) Stirrup jar, false top/shoulder frag. Hard,
brown monochrome inside; exterior rim band with reddish, gritty, SB, B. Petals on disc, stacked arches
white dots added and floral spray. LM I A. FIG. 1. between handles, running spirals below. Imitative
PLATE8 (e). of Knossian style. LM III A1/2. FIG. 1. PLATE9 (C).
61.(90) Jug, rim/shoulder frag. Hard, buff, dark and 71.(77)Stirrup jar, shoulder frag. Hard, red, light
white inclus; B. Brown rim band in and out; neck and dark inclusions, micaeous; slipped buff. Arcs and
band, dots, band, alternating leaves and foliate band. spoked wheel in reddish paint. LM III A2. PLATE 9
Probably LM I A. FIG. 2. PLATES7 (e), 9 (hI). (c).
62.(7o) Jug, four shoulder frags. Light brown, hard, 72.(136) Stirrup jar(?), two shoulder frags. Fine,
slightly coarse, SB, B. Foliate band above and floral orange buff, SB, B. Brown loop around spout
motif below. LM I A. PLATE 5 (f). (or handle), bands, pendant arcade pattern. LM III
63.(226) Jug, rim/shoulder frag. Red, gritty, white, A2. PLATE 8 (h).
dark inclus, SB, well burnished. Brown rim band 73.(176) Pithos, body frag. Th 1. 7. Hard, grey to
in, out; spirals below. LM I A. FIG. 3. PLATE (a). red, coarse (quartzite, schist and shells). Buff slip,
lo brown vertical band and lines. LM III B? PLATE9
64.(236) Jug, four body frags. Hard, fine, slightly
gritty red, B. Glossy foliate band, bands, spirals. LM (e).
I A. PLATE8 (g). 74.(24) Stirrup jar, seven frags. (spout, handle and
65.(228) Jug, body frag. Fine, reddish, SB, B. body pieces). Clay reddish brown, coarse (quartzite
Reddish brown spiral, wiggles, band. LM I A. and schist). B, slipped buff. Octopus design in brown.
66.(167/229) Jug, two body frags. Soft, brownish LM III B. PLATE 9 (d).
buff, fine, SB, B. Brown spirals, wavy lines (red line), 75.(1o) Krater, two rim frags. Hard, buff, specks of
band (added white dots), red line, rows of dots, band. white and mica, unburnished. Dark mono interior;
LM I A. PLATE8 (). red crosshatched vertical borders and crosshatched
67.(213) Cup(?), rim frag. Rim D. c. 15.0. Steep arrow-shaped pendants. Bell profile. LM III C.
profile. Hard, buff, white, dark specks, SB, B. Painted PLATE 9 (b).

Knossos
76.(42) Vaphio cup, half complete. Hard, light stripes on double coil handle. LM I B. PLATES
4 (c),9
brown, fine. Streaky brown mono interior; running (h).
spirals, bands, dots on exterior in lustrous, crackly 8o.(Mlo6) Jug(?), body frag. Pink buff, black paint.
brown paint. Spiral on underside of base. LM I A. Octopus tentacles, seaweed. Mountjoy, fig. 17. LM
FIG. 4. PLATE 7 (g). I B. PLATE 8 (d), (f).
77.(111/138) Flask, two body frags. Hard, brownish 81.(Mio8) Jug(?), body frag. Mauvy-pink, deep buff
buff, quartzite, mica, red inclus; slipped buff, B. Two slip, shaded-brown paint. Octopus tentacles,
friezes of adder marks, spirals and body bands below seaweed. Mountjoy, fig. 17. LM I B. PLATE8 (C).
in brown paint. LM I B. PLATE9 (a). 82.(M113) Jug, body frag. Pink-buff, yellow slip,
78.(216) Jug(?), shoulder frag. Hard, dark buff, dark black paint. Octopus tentacles, seaweed. Mountjoy,
inclus. SB, B. Marine Style rockwork in glossy black fig. 17. LM I B. PLATE 8 (d).
paint. Not illustrated. LM I B. 83.(M115) Jug(?), body frag. Pink-buff, black paint.
79.(85) Flask, rim frag. Hard, buff, fine. Adder mark Octopus tentacles, rockwork. Mountjoy, fig. 17. LM
pattern on lip; reddish-brown mono neck; pairs of I B. PLATE 8 (C).

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NEW POTTERY FROM THE PSYCHRO CAVE 137

40

173

48 o ,n 36

63

95

FIG. 3. Scale: 173, 40, 36, 92, 63 at 1: 4; 48 at 1: 8.

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138 L. VANCE WATROUS

84.(M116) Jug(?), body frag. Pink-buff, black paint. 101.(135) Stirrupjar, shoulder frag. Soft, buff, dark
Octopus tentacle, rockwork. Mountjoy, fig. 17. LM angular inclus. Dot rosette, stacked arcs, banding.
I B. PLATE 8 (C). LM III A. PLATE 9 (c).
85.(M 117) Jug(?), body frag. Pink-buff, black 103.( 117) Flask, neck/shoulder frag. Hard, greyish
paint. Octopus tentacle. Mountjoy, fig. 1. LM I B. green (overfired), red, quartzite, mica inclus; B.
PLATE8 (f). Pendant foliate bands on neck; abstract pattern and
86.(M162) Jug, body frag. Pink-buff, black paint. two eyes(?), perhaps from a face on one side of body.
Rockwork. Mountjoy, fig. 18. LM I B. PLATE8 Perforated handle(?) stub. LM III A. PLATES 7 (h), 9
(d), (f). (b).
87.(M163) Jug, body frag. Pink-buff, black paint. 104.(114) Jug, body frag. Soft greenish buff, fine;
Rockwork. Mountjoy, fig. 18. LM I B. PLATE 8 (c). B. Floral motifs. Same vase as Psychro1996, no. o109.
88.(M164) Jug, body frag. Pink-buff, black paint. LM III A. PLATE5 (f).
Rockwork. Mountjoy, fig. 18. LM I B. PLATE 8 (c). 105.(69) Amphora or stirrup jar, body frag. Hard,
89.(73) Amphora(?), shoulder frag. Hard, orange, oatmeal, many red inclus; slipped buff. Brown lily,
many reddish inclus, SB, B. Brown arcade pattern hatched loop. LM III A. PLATE 9 (f).
9 (f).
filled with dots. LM I B-III A. PLATE 1o6.(63) Stirrup jar, spout. Hard, buff, fine. Dark
go.(o105) Kylix, rim/handle frag. Soft, greenish buff brown glossy rim band in, out; stripes on lip. LM
(overfired), fine; B. Interior: rim, two body bands; III A1/2. PLATE 9 (a).
exterior: floral (lilies?),body bands. LM II. PLATE
8 (e). 107.(116) Flask, body frag. Hard, greenish buff, fine;
91.(54/173) Jug, shoulder/handle frag. Soft, greenish slipped buff, B. Spoke wheel at centre, concentric
(overfired), fine; lightly B. Floral design; striped bands. LM III A2. PLATE7 (b).
handle; body band. LM II. PLATE 8 (e). 108.(112) Kylix, rim frag. Hard, light brown, fine;
92.(179/169) Jug, two body frags. Soft, orange, fine; B. Glossy mono interior; spiral exterior. Same vase
B. Lilies, dot rosettes, framed by wavy line above. as Psychro 1996, no. 11o, pl. xi c. LM II A2. PLATE9
Cf. Popham, pl. 111 g. LM II. FIG. 3. PLATE8 (e). (a).
93.(168) Jug, body frag. Soft, greenish, fine log9.(143) Amphora(?), three body frags. Hard, buff,
(overfired). Heavy leaf pattern. Cf. Popham, pl. 96 large red inclus, SB, B. Glossy greyish brown bands.
cand 118 b. LM II. PLATE8 (e). Probably LM III A2. PLATES 5 (C), 6 (e).
94.(119) Cup, base frag. Soft, buff, fine, slightly 11o.(162) Amphoroid or pithoid jar, body frag.
micaceous. Smoothed in, out. Reddish splatters in Hard, buff, white, red inclus; slipped buff, B.
and foliage out. Cf. Popham, pl. 59. LM II. PLATE S-shaped curves, body bands. LM III A2. PLATE
1O(b). 9 (f).
95.(215) Jug, two (of three) body frags. Very soft, 111.(196) Amphoroid jar, two shoulder frags. Hard
buff, fine (overfired). Neck band, quirks, wavy line, buff, large red rounded inclus; slipped buff, B. Glossy
running spirals. LM II-III Al. FIG.3. PLATE 8 (e). grey brown bands, stacked arcs. LM III A2. PLATE
96.(53) Cup, base/wall frag. Hard, buff, fine. Lightly 9 ().
B. Dot at bottom of interior base; olive sprays, base 112.(64) Stirrupjar, body frag. Hard, oatmeal fabric;
band. Cf. Popham, pl. 104 c. LM II. FIG. 2. PLATES slipped buff, B. Dark brown Octopus pattern. LM
9 (h), to (b). III A2-B. PLATE 9 (f).
97.(HM 2116) Rhyton, body frag. Hard, buff, fine. 113.(115) Stirrupjar, shoulder frag. Hard, buff, dark
Glossy black floral patternbelow leaping agrimi. Same inclus, mica; slipped buff, B. Base of spout preserved.
vase as Psychro,pl. xii a, b. LM III AI. PLATE
8 (g). Band at spout, two on body, hatched arcs on
98.(81)Jug, shoulder frag. Soft, yellowish buff, fine. shoulder. LM III A2-B. PLATE 6 (d).
Floral pattern. LM III AI. PLATE 5 (d). 114.(82) Amphora(?), shoulder frag. Hard, coarse
99.(65) Cup, rim frag. Hard, buff, fine. Mono red (dark inclus), SB, B. Hatched band, lozenges in
interior; rim band, arcs, diagonal line. LM III A1/ chocolate brown paint. LM III A2-B1. PLATE7 (d).
2. PLATE 9 (a). 115.(8) Cup, rim frag. Hard, buff, fine. Slipped buff,
xoo.(122) Pithoid amphora, body frag. Soft, buff, B. Brown mono interior; rim band, arcs, double
rounded red inclus, SB, B. Floral pattern (lilies?), body band. LM III B. FIG. 4. PLATE9 (a).
body band below painted in a rich red. LM III A. 116.(1o6) Cup, body frag. Hard, buff, fine. Dark
PLATE7 (d). mono interior. Multiple are motifs, body bands. LM
101.(101) Stirrupjar, shoulder and body frags. Hard, III B2-C. PLATE 5 ().
dark buff; dark and white specks, SB. Spirals and 117.(124) Mycenaean bowl, body frag. Very hard
stacked arcs on shoulder; spirals, stacked arcs, foliate pinkish brown, SB, brilliant B. Carinated shape,
band on body in dark brown paint. LM III A? small base. Mono brown in; vertical stroke, banding
PLATE7 (C). out. LH III B. PLATE5 (p.

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NEW POTTERY FROM THE PSYCHRO CAVE 139

118.(241) Stirrupjar, body frag. Soft, brownish buff. Spiralform designs on lid, tongue pattern on rim.
Brown looped spirals, bands. LM III A2-B. PLATE Hole to tie lid to jar. Seventh century BC. PLATE9
9 (c). (g).
119.(142) Closed shape, body frag. Soft, buff, dark 123.(37) Pithos, two rim frags. Hard, buff, fine;
specks and mica; B. Stacked arcs, triple body bands. slipped buff. Flanged lip to receive lid (for 122?).
Part of 69? LM III B. Not illustrated. Chocolate brown meander pattern below rim, body
120.(3) Deep bowl, three rim frags. Hard, pinkish band. Probably for a burial. Mid-eighth century BC.
buff, white and mica specks; slipped buff, B. PLATE 9 (g).
Alternating metopes decorated with rosettes and 124.(220o) Aryballos, shoulder frag. Hard, grey, fine.
lozenges. LM III B-C. FIG. 4. PLATE9 b. Concentric circles, bands. Seventh century BC.PLATE
121.(2) Deep bowl, two rim frags. Hard, pinkish buff, 9(g).
fine; B. Mono red interior. Red tricurved streamer, 125.(113) Miniature cup. Hard, buff, fine. Third
double body band. LM III C. FIG. 4. PLATE9 (c), century BCvotive. Cf. N. Coldstream, Knossos.The
(h). Sanctuary ofDemeter (Oxford, 1973), pls. 15. 30, 27.
122.(56) Lid of burial jar, rim frag. Soft, fine, buff. 139. PLATE4 (a).

Lasithi Plain
126.(17) Juglet, complete (except for handle). Hard, inclus. Sleeve rib. From dancing female figure
brown, much silver and gold mica. Splashes of black Psychro,pl. xxi c-f LM I. PLATE
6 (g).
paint. Probably MM III-LM I. FIG. 4. PLATES7 (h), 131.(40) Lamp or cooking dish, rim and handle frag.
io (a). Hard, red, phyllite inclus; handle slipped. LM I.
127.(15) Pithos, profile. Rim D. 15.0. Hard, coarse, PLATE 6 (g).
dark core; SB, B. Dark rim band; white wavy line 132.(83) Pithos, body frag. Hard, red, coarse. Stand
in. On exterior white stripes, foliate band; red band; in relief below band with incised circles. Part of
white dots on black band; running spoked wheels, Psychro, no. 85 (HM 2118, 2121), pl. xix i-j. LM I.
red wavy lines; line of white dots on black band; PLATE 10 (C).

running spirals outlined by red lines; black body 133.(36) Male(?) figurine, upper half. Hard,
bands with lines in added white. Shoulder rib and brownish red clay, painted dark. Eye sockets barely
articulated base. LM I A. FIG. 4. PLATES4 (b), 6 (b). visible; plaits of hair on back; stubs of outstretched
128.(32/84) Pithos, body frag. Th 1.1. Hard, tan, arms. Attenuated proportions suggest a Late
coarse, schist and quartzite inclus. Double axes in Geometric date. PLATE6 (g).
relief. LM I. PLATE10 (C). 134.(35) Kiln separator(?). Hard, orange, white
129.(25) Bull(?) figurine, front half. Soft, reddish, specks. Flat, plaque-like profile, broken at all three
coarse. Ridge along underside of belly. PLATE 6 (g~). ends. Concentric circles stamped on one face.
130o.(22)Statuette, upper arm frag. Hard, grey, white Seventh century BC? PLATE9 (g).

Malia-East Crete
135.(4) Jar, two body frags. Hard, light brown, brown, white and red inclus. Splashes of brown
slightly coarse, grano-diorite. Decorated panels. For paint. MM III-LM I. PLATE10 (c).
more of this vase, see Psychro, pl. ix a (with 139.(26/62) Hole mouth jar, rim and body frags.
comparanda). From the Mirabello area. MM I A. Rim D. 33.0. Hard, buff, porous, coarse, red and
PLATE4 (C). white specks. Reddish brown paint: splatters on
136.(6) Bowl, base frag. Soft, buff, red, micaceous interior, rim band, drips, splatters on exterior.
and quartzite inclus. Wheelmade. Chocolate brown Interior left rough. Vertical line of applied cupules
mono interior; bands and triglyph lines in creamy on exterior. MM III-LM I. PLATE9 (e)
paint on a dark brown background. MM II. PLATE 140.(46) Amphora(?), two body frags. Light brown,
4 (d). slightly gritty, dark and quartzite inclus; SB. Dotted
137.(58) Amphora(?), rim/shoulder frag. Hard, light figure-of-eight shields(?) in orange paint; bands with
brown to grey, fine; B. Rim band in and out; neck added white; floral design below. 'Zako' written in
and handle painted a dark brown; TSR on shoulder. pencil on interior (perhaps this piece reminded
Maliote? MM III-LM I A. PLATE 7 (c). Hogarth of an example from Zakros?). LM I A.
138.(59) Coarse jug, shoulder frag. Hard, dark PLATE 6 (f).

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140o L. VANCE WATROUS

160

115

121 126
120

170

76

127 56

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NEW POTTERY FROM THE PSYCHRO CAVE 141

141.(144) Jug, shoulder frag. Hard, grey (overfired), irregular pendant foliate band. LM I. PLATE (C).
O10
dark inclus. Irregularfoliate band. LM I. PLATE
1o (C). 143.(175) Pithos, body frag. Hard, grey to red,
142.(125) Jug(?), shoulder frag. Hard, red, red and coarse; SB. Part of Psychro,no. 113, pl. xxiv c. LM
white inclus; slipped buff. Brown neck band, III B. PLATE9 (e).

Other
144.(87) Bowl(?), body frag. Hard, coarse, light, dark 156.(128) Jug, two body frags. Hard, buff, dark
inclus. Burnished a smooth black. Vertical B marks inclus. Dark brown bands and rows of dots. LM I.
out. Late Neolithic. PLATE 4 (a). PLATE10 (b).
145.(57) Collared jar, rim frag. Reddish oatmeal 157.(72) Pithos, body frag. Th. 1. 8.0. Hard, orange
fabric, angular white, dark inclus. SB. Rim band in; to red, grey core, coarse (many angular red inclus, a
hatched triangle, shoulder band in, in matt red. EM few white specks); smoothed surface, slipped buff.
II A. Probably from the Mesara. PLATE 4 (a). Taenia band. Red drips. Probably LM I. PLATE 9 (e).
146.(164) Straight-sided cup, base frag. Soft, orange, 158.(141) Jug, neck/shoulder frag. Soft, buff, fine.
fine. Painted red in and out, white cross on bottom. Dark brown neck band in, out (added white line); row
MM II-III. PLATE 4 (d). of dots, band, spirals(?). LM I. PLATES5 (g), to (b).
147.(41) Jug, base frag. Base D. 8.0. Hard, pale buff, 159.(76)Jug or amphora, body frag. Light buff, hard,
fine. Honey-coloured TSR, highly burnished. Once fine, SB, B. Spiral in chocolate brown. LM I.
repaired in plaster to another (now missing) PLATE 5 (e).
fragment. LM I A. PLATE7 (a). 16o.(78) Basin or kalathos, rim frag. Hard, coarse,
148.(19) Jug, upper half. Hard, brownish buff, round red, angular white inclus, dark specks; slipped
quartzite, mica inclus; SB, B. Midrib on handle; a mustard colour. Miniature 'kernoi' (with holes as
imitation rivet at lip juncture; rib at base of neck. if for grain stalks) applied interior and exterior at
Reddish brown bands on spout, shoulder, body; rim. LM I. FIG. 4. PLATE o10(C).
running spirals. Maliote? Late LM I A-LM I B. FIG. 161.(79) Large amphora(?), body frag. Hard, buff;
2. PLATE 6 (a). slipped buff, highly burnished. Burnt grey. Black and
149.(49) Jug, neck/shoulder frag. Hard, pale reddish white bands, line of white dots. LM I. PLATE5 (f).
buff, fine; SB. Red wavy neck band; band at base of 162.(139) Jug, rim/shoulder frag. Hard, brownish
neck; awkward foliate sprays on body. LM I. PLATES buff, dark, white, mica specks, SB. Rim band, wavy
5 (b) 9 (). neck band, sloppy bands below. Probably LM I.
150.(159) Pithoid amphora, two shoulder frags. PLATE 5 (p.
Hard, greyish clay, large red inclus; slipped buff, B. 163.(28) Animal figurine, leg frag. Soft, reddish buff,
Handlestub. Brown shoulder bands (with added slightly coarse. Hollow int. Painted a washy black.
white bands), running spirals. LM I. PLATE9 (f) Probably LM I. PLATE6 (g).
(where upside-down). 164.(2o4) Cup, rim/wall frag. Rim D. 16.0. Hard,
151.(163) Straight-sided cup, body frag. Hard, buff, brown, fine (white specks); lightly B. Light brown
fine. Mono black interior; spray with added white bands in; rim band out, foliate band. LM I A. FIG.
lines. LM I A. FIG. 1. PLATE8 (h). 1. PLATE 4 (h).
152.(88) Amphora or jug, body frag. Hard, brownish 165.(160) Amphora or jug, six body frags. Hard,
buff, white and red inclus; slipped buff, B. Painted a buff, fine; slipped buff, B. Floral motif in added white
swirly mono black. Probably MM III. PLATE 8 (a). on shoulder; brown and red bands on lower body.
153.(2 24) Bowl, body frag. Hard, buff, dark inclus; LM I A. PLATES7 (e), 10 (d).
slipped buff, B. TSR; brown band. MM III-LM I 166.(Mio5)Jug Jug(?), body frag. Yellowish clay; black
A. PLATE 8 (h). paint. Octopus tentacles, seaweed. Mountjoy, fig. 17.
154.(153) Bridge spouted jar(?), wall frag. Hard, LM I B. PLATE8 (d), ().
buff, fine. Glossy black background, white loop(?) 167.(Mllo) Jug(?) body frag. Yellow clay; black
and three white bands. Broken at base. MM III- paint. Octopus tentacles. Mountjoy, fig. 17. LM I B.
LM I A. PLATE 4(d). PLATE 8 (C).

155.(34) Miniature appliqu6 cup. Hard reddish, fine. 168.(M128) Jug(?), body frag. Yellow clay, black
Dark paint. From a larger vase. MM III-LM I. paint. Octopus tentacle. Mountjoy, fig. 18. LM I B.
PLATE4 (a). PLATE 8 (d).

FIG. 4 (left). Scale: 16o, 76, 127 at 1: 4; 115, 121, 126, 12o, 170o at 1: 3; 56 at 1: 8.

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142 L. VANCE WATROUS

169.(158) Palace Style jar, two shoulder frags. Th. 175.(11) Spindlewhorl. Hard, grey, coarse. Burnt.
0.9. Soft, light orange, a few white and dark specks, Iron Age. PLATE4 (a).
B. Large lily or lotus flower in black glossy paint. 176.(31) Male statuette, shoulder/chest/arm frag.
LM III A. PLATE 5 (c). Preserved. H. 8.0. Soft, fine buff; traces of dark paint.
17o.(68) Mycenaean jug, shoulder frag. Hard, fine, Hollow. Left nipple preserved. Nude? Complete, the
buff; SB, B. Flower (FS 120) pattern in chocolate statuette would have stood c. 23.0 in height. Archaic?
brown. Cf. P. Mountjoy, MycenaeanDecoratedPottery PLATE 6 (g).
(SIMA 73, Gateborg, 1986), 75, fig. 86. LH III A2. 177.(33) Base of a plaque(?). Hard, fine, light reddish
FIG. 4. PLATE6 (d). buff. Painted reddish brown. Early Roman. Not
171.(152) Stirrup jar, shoulder frag. Soft, buff, fine, illustrated.
SB. Loops and banding in brown. LM III B. 178.(121) Lamp(?), handles missing. Hard, buff, red,
PLATE9 (c). white specks. Painted monochrome red. Inside burnt.
172.(130)Jug, shoulder frag. Soft, light orange, fine; Edge at carinationbroken all around:originallyjoined
slightly micaeous, SB, lightly B. Ridge at neck. (inside) to larger vessel. PLATE9 (g).
Sloppy pendant foliate band. LM I B? PLATE 6 (d). 179.(13) Lamp, face and profile. Soft, orange, fine,
173.(7) Kylix, rim frag. Hard, pinkish buff, slightly gritty, micaeous. Painted red. Mould-made scene in
coarse; slipped buff, B. Spiral/radar pattern and tondo: young winged Eros holding a club standing
multiple stem. LM III B 2. FIG. 3. PLATE6 (e). next to a vertical tree or strut. Cf. four similar
174.(29) Animal (bull?) statuette, leg and haunch examples from the Idaean Cave, P. Sapouna, Die
frag. Soft, buff; traces of grey to brown paint. Bildlampen riimischerZeit aus der idaischenZeusgrotte
Complete figure would have been c. 25.0 in length. aufKreta (BAR S696; Oxford, 1998), pl. 3, nos. 33-
Early Iron Age. PLATE6 (g). 6. Second or third century AD. PLATE9 (g).

STONE

18o.(12) Lamp or libation table, rim frag. Mottled (Cambridge, 1969), types 24 and 26, P294, and
grey, green steatite Cf. P. Warren, MinoanStone Vases D179. MM III-LM I. PLATE4 (a).

DISCUSSION
Before discussing this pottery and its wider implications, it is important to acknowledge
the limitations of this material. Hogarth saved only decorated pottery from his excavation
at Psychro, and the missing joins from partially made-up vases in boxes F 5 and F 6
indicate that we possess everything he saved. Nevertheless, this pottery is significant,
because, judging from the amount and the high quality of the dedications made at Psychro,
this sanctuary was one of the most important in Minoan Crete, comparable to Jouktas
and the Idaean Cave. As such, the chronological sequence of artifacts from Psychro may
relate to wider developments on the island.
The Neolithic and EM II A sherds (nos. 144 and 145) from box F 6 are the first of
their kind published from the cave. Hogarth described the earliest cultural level in the
Psychro Cave as characterized by 'primitive hand-burnished bucchero of the Neolithic
epoch' (viz. 144).9 The EM II A example (145) suggests that occupation (or perhaps
sporadic use) of the cave continued into the beginning of the Early Minoan period, since
it is possible that Hogarth's 'bucchero' ware included dark burnished EM I pottery.
Nevertheless, with the exception of 144 and 145, the types of pottery in the catalogue
above do not differ greatly from the ceramics published in Psychro.Protopalatial and
Neopalatial finds in boxes F 5 and F 6 and in Psychroare mostly containers for liquids, i.e.

9 Hogarth, 115.

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NEW POTTERY FROM THE PSYCHRO CAVE 143

cups, jugs, and amphorae, as well as stands and a few larger storage vessels. LM II-III B
pottery in this article and in Psychroare also similar in shape. Despite the appearance of
several new shapes in the Minoan ceramic repertoire after LM I B, the LM II-III vases
from Psychro do not seem to differ functionally from earlier dedications.
When the pottery from Psychro is arranged chronologically by tentative production
source (TABLE 1), it reveals an interesting sequence. During the Protopalatial (MM I B-II)
and early Neopalatial (MM III-LM I A) periods, the bulk of the recognizable fine ware at
the cave apparently came from the area of Malia. Beginning in LM I B (or late in LM I
A), this pattern changes suddenly and radically. In LM I B and continuing through LM
III Az, Knossian vases predominate at Psychro. On a stylistic basis, we can probably add
to this Knossian group the well-known face of a female statuette and a bull figurine of the
LM III A period published in Psychro.1oOverall, the total (119) of MM I-LM III vases
published here is large enough to indicate that this sequence is unlikely to be a coincidence.
After LM III A1/2, Maliote vases begin to reappear at the Cave, and during LM III B-C,
both Knossian and Maliote vases are present. The implications of this pottery for the
Psychro sanctuary are discussed below, under three chronological periods.
THE PSYCHRO SANCTUARY IN MM I-LM I A

Before trying to interpret the MM I-LM I A ceramics at Psychro, it may be helpful to


look briefly at the two major settlement centres nearest to the Cave, Malia, and Knossos.
During the MM I-LM I A period Malia was a prosperous palatial centre. In MM III
the town suffered destructions by earthquake(?), and was subsequently rebuilt in LM I
A." Similarly, the Malia palace suffered damage and was reconstructed during LM I A.
During the prosperous MM I-LM I A period most of the fine ware vases dedicated at
Psychro were made at Malia. Cult at the Cave began in MM I. When Hogarth dug at
Psychro, he described the bottom stratum within the Cave as 'a thick sediment of yellow
clay mixed in its upper layer with a little primitive buccheropottery (viz. 144) and many
bones, but empty below of anything but water-worn stones'." He characterized the next
level above it as follows: 'The strata above this clay, where I began to dig, consisted of a
black mould mixed with ashes, bones and pottery.'13This black level, up to seven feet
thick, was the only one to have produced votives and cult equipment. Hogarth specifically
contrasted the nature and date of these two deposits: 'The earliest pottery, found in a
votive deposit, is the small amount of Kamares ware [in the Upper Grotto] ... Primitive
hand-burnished bucchero of the Neolithic epoch occurs only in natural water-laid deposit.'"4
The mass of fine ware pottery'5 from the votive deposit dates to MM I B-II, evidence
that cult activity in the cave began in MM I, probably at the beginning of MM I B. It
seems reasonable to infer from the quantity of MM I-LM I A Maliote vases that a close
relationship existed between Malia and the Cave during this time, and that it was Maliotes
who founded the sanctuary.16
Finds from the cave give us further information about the visitors to the Psychro Cave
during MM I-LM I A. The monumental cyclopean terrace outside the Cave, the many

10 Psychro,pls. xxv c, xxvi e-f 15 Psychro, nos. 2-6; above, 1-5.


11 Driessen-MacDonald, 181-6. 16 Several scenarios explaining how these vases got to
12 Hogarth, 96. Psychro are possible, but the most likely one seems to
13 Ibid. me to be the simplest, that is, the Maliotes regularly
14 Ibid., 115. visited the cave and left their locally made vases there.

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144 L. VANCE WATROUS

TABLE 1. Comparative list of the quantities of Maliote and Knossian vases from the Psychro Cave.
Vases listed here are from the catalogue above, while figures in parentheses are objects published earlier in
Psychro, which are included on a stylistic basis.

Malia Knossos

MM I B-II Cup 4
Jug 2
MM III-LM IA Cup 4 (3+ 1?)
Jug 28
Bowl 5(1)
Amphora g
BSJ 2
Flask 2
Askos 1
Bucket 1
Stand 3 (2)
Pithos 3
Jar 1
Dish (1) Cup 1
LM IB Jug(?) 8
Jug 1 (1)
Flask 1
LM II Cup 1
Jug 4
Kylix 1
LM IIIA1 Jug 2
Flask 2
Kylix 1
SJ 4
Rhyton 1
Amphora 4
Statuette (1)
Bull figurine (1)
LM IIIA-B SJ 6 Cup 3
Pithos 1 SJ 2
Bull figurine (1) Amphora 2
Kylix (1)
LMIIIC Krater 1 (1) DB 2
Tankard (1) Krater (1)

pithoi in the walled storeroom (Hogarth's 'temenos') and the great quantity of votives
indicate that visitors to the Cave came in large numbers.'7 By the Neopalatial period, the
upper chamber had been embellished with 'marble' paving slabs and a substantial stone
altar whose stucco surface bore a painted fresco,'8 refinements that point to the involvement
of the Malia elite. On the other hand, gifts at the Cave clearly came from several levels of
society. Some dedications are quite simple, including conical cups containing food, small

'7 Hogarth, 96-9; Psychro, 47-52. Hogarth, p. been in the thousands.


records finding many hundreds of wholeconical cups. lol,
The 's Hogarth, 99.
total number of conical cups left at the cave must have

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NEW POTTERY FROM THE PSYCHRO CAVE 145

'first fruit' dedications in kernoi and miniature vases, and clay figurines of animals meant
as substitutes for animal sacrifices. These dedications were probably made by non-elites
living in the Lasithi Plain and the area of Malia.19Other gifts, however, were inherently
more valuable, ranging from sealstones and fine ceramics to gold jewellery, stone offering
tables, and bronze figurines and weapons. The expensive nature of these latter gifts points
to worshippers drawn from the upper class of urban Malia. Taken together, the evidence
above suggests that Psychro was theextra-urban sanctuary for the population of the Minoan
polity centred at Malia during MM I B-LM I A.
THE PSYCHRO SANCTUARY IN LM I B-IIIA1/2

By LM I B the town at Malia experienced a drop in its standard of living.1o Parts of the
LM I B palace were blocked off or abandoned before its final destruction at the end of the
period. The entire settlement also seems to have been destroyed by fire at this time. After
the LM I B destruction, some areas of Malia were reinhabited in LM II and LM III A1.2
Occupation of the site probably increased during LM III A-B, and continued into LM
III C.22During the LM II-III B period, local Maliote ceramic production was active, and
often displayed Knossian stylistic influence.
Meanwhile, at Knossos, the settlement and palace had been extensively rebuilt following
earthquake(?) damage at the end of MM III.23A second destruction occurred late in LM
I A. The Knossos palace was further repaired at this time, but unlike the Malia palace, it
continued to function after LM I B, until LM III B1, despite a major destruction in LM
III Az. Houses in the town were destroyed, abandoned and/or rebuilt at the same time as
the palace. Cemeteries at Mavro Spelio, Gypsades, the Akropolis Hill, Tekke, Zapher
Papoura, and Sellopoulo, ringed the large urban nucleus of the town during LM III.
Recent excavations at Cretan settlements outside of Knossos and Malia indicate that
the transition from LM I A to LM I B was marked by fundamental changes across the
island.'4 At Agia Triada, Villa A, originally built in MM III was remodelled and
subsequently expanded during LM I A, to become the grand 'Royal Villa' complete with
Knossian features in its architecture and frescoes.25 Based on his study of masons' marks
at Agia Triada, Cucuzza concluded that LM I A architectural renovations of the Royal
Villa and the 'Casa Est' were carried out by two teams, one local, and one Knossian.26La
Rosa and Militello have therefore argued that by LM I B, the local ruling authority had
been shifted from the palace at Phaistos to the 'Royal Villa' at Agia Triada under the
direction of Knossos.27During LM I B the finest vases found at Agia Triada (and at Phaistos
and Kommos) are recognizable as Knossian products.

'9 Votives of the MM I-LM I period are collected in 24 Ibid., at large. This is one of the central conclusions
Psychro, 49-52. of this valuable book.
'o Driessen-MacDonald. 25 Ibid. 201-4, and M. Cameron, Fresco:Passport into
21 A. Farnoux, 'Malia au Minoen recent II-IIIAI', La the Past (Athens, 1999), 242.
Crite mycinienne (BCH Supp. 30; Paris, 1997), 135-47; 26 N. Cucuzza, 'Mason's marks ad Hagia Triada',
id., 'Quartier Gamma at Malia reconsidered', in E. and Sileno, 19 (1993), 53-65.
B. Hallager (eds), Late Minoan III Pottery(Arhus, 1997), 27 V. La Rosa, 'La "Villa Royale" de Hagia Triada', in
259-71. R. Hiigg (ed.), TheFunctionof theMinoan Villa (Stockholm,
" A. Kanta, The Late Minoan III Period in Crete
1997), 79-89; P. Militello, 'Riconsiderazioni preliminarie
(G6teborg, 1980), 50-2. sulla documentazione in Linear A ad Hagia Triada',
23 Driessen-MacDonald, 138-70o. Sileno, 14 (1988), 233-61.

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146 L. VANCE WATROUS

At the site of Zakros, L. Platon's study has shown that the wealthy MM III-LM I A
houses in the town possessed frescoes, high quality pottery and imported objects, and
were production sources for textiles, faience, and stone vases.28The final palace at Zakros
was built in a mature phase of LM I A,29 and the houses around the palace subsequently
exhibit a drop in prosperity. During LM I B, production and possession of expensive
goods at Zakros was concentrated solely in the palace. The LM I A-B situation at Gournia
is similar.LM I A houses at Gournia yielded finds suggestive of wealth and of the production
of bronze objects, pottery and stone vases, whereas in LM I B, the palace emerged as the
main focus of the production and storage of valuable goods.so
The archaeological evidence above implies that, following a widespread earthquake
destruction late in LM I A, probably associated with the Thera eruption, Knossos gained
some form of control over other major settlements in central and east Crete.3' At the end
of LM I B, a horizon of fiery destructions across Crete marks the arrival of Mainland
Greeks on the island. At this point Knossos became the centre of a Mycenaean kingdom
ruling much of Crete during LM II-III A1/2. During LM I, peak sanctuaries on the
island, with the significant exception of Mt. Jouktas, the extra-urban shrine of Knossos,
went out of use. It seems that after expanding its control over much of Crete in late LM I
A, Knossos centralized peak sanctuary cult atJouktas. A number of cave sanctuaries also
went out of use after LM I, but others, notably Psychro, Kamares, and the Idaean Cave,
continued to function during the LM II-III A period.32
The pottery examined in this article provides specific evidence that Psychro acquired a
special relationship with LM I B Knossos which continued after the Mycenaean conquest.
Virtually all the high quality LM I B-III A1/2 pottery from Psychro is Knossian. Expensive
gifts, such as jewellery, seals and rings as well as bronze figurines and weapons were also
offered at the Cave during this time.33Apparently, elite Knossian visitors enjoyed a special
status at the sanctuary. Therefore, it is tempting to link these vases at Psychro, most of
which are liquid containers, to the dedications of oil sent to Dictaean Zeus that are
mentioned in the Linear B tablet KN. Fp 1 from the palace at Knossos.34Like the LM I B
Minoan rulers at Knossos, their Mycenaean successors venerated the sanctuary at Psychro.
It may be significant that the only other cave sanctuary whose deity is known and that
continues into this period, is the Idaean Cave, which is also associated with Zeus. Psychro,
at least, seems to have come under Knossian control during LM I B-III A1/2. This pattern
of state control over rural sanctuaries in Bronze Age Crete resembles the practice of Early

'8 L. Platon, The Workshops and Working Areas of 32 Pyschro,57-72, 98-9 summarizes the evidence.
Minoan Crete. The Evidence of the Palace and Town of 33 Ibid.,
Zakros' (University of Bristol, Ph.D., 1988), i. 394-419; 52-3.
34 J. Chadwick, Documents in Mycenaean Greek
id., "Avuotyt~apa 'cya "6yv3g' ora Xgqta LtSu0wivxa-rd (Cambridge, 1973), 305-6. Most recently, H. and M. van
-r vcoavax-optxil ,seioso ocrlv Kei-rq", in Eliten in der Effenterre, 'Amnissos et la tablette myc6nienne KN. Fp
Bronzeit (Mainz, 1999), i. 37-50. (1)', in S. Bohm and K.-V. von Eickstedt (eds), Ithaki:
29 L. Platon, 'The political and cultural influence of the FestscriftfuirJrg Schifer zum 75. Geburtstag(Mainz, 2001),
Zakros Palace on nearby sites and in a wider context', in 53-6. The tablet KN. Fp 1 lists offerings of oil made at
J. Driessen, I. Schoep, and R. Laffineur (eds), The various shrines, including at Amnissos and at one
MonumentsofMinos (Aegaeum, 23; Liege, 2oo2), 145-55. belonging to Dictaean Zeus. For the identification of the
30L. V. Watrous, 'The Economic Organization of Psychro Cave as the sanctuary of Dictaean Zeus, see
Minoan Crete', paper delivered at the NYU. Aegean Pyschro,18-19 with earlier bibliography.
Symposium, New York, 15 Oct. 2001.
31 Pace Driessen-MacDonald, 70-83.

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NEW POTTERY FROM THE PSYCHRO CAVE 147

Iron Age Greek city-states, who justified their territorial expansion by cultivating cultic
links with, or assuming outright control of, rural shrines within their newly acquired lands.s5
The Bronze Age Cretan practice may have been similarly motivated.

THE PSYCHRO SANCTUARY IN LM III A2-C

Following the LM III A2 destruction of the palace at Knossos, there are signs of renewed
autonomy in regions outside of north central Crete. For example, massive new building
programmes undertaken at Kommos and Agia Triada in LM III A2-B have been
interpreted as a symptom of the newly acquired political independence of the Mesara
region.36 According to La Rosa, at Agia Triada, the recently constructed Megaron, the
grand lower Stoa and the refurbished Bastione mark the site's establishment as the
administrativecentre of the region during LM III A2-B.37 It is possible that the construction
of large new buildings at Malia, Gournia and Zakros have the same significance.
At Psychro during LM III A2-B the pattern of dedications changed in several ways. In
this period Maliote dedications reappeared at the cave.Judging by its clay, one LM III B
bull figurine published in Psychro,38 may be Maliote. Knossian vases were also left at Psychro
during this period. Perhaps during this era no one polity controlled the sanctuary. Visitors
at this time brought imported Mycenaean vases (i7o, i72) to the Cave. In Late Minoan
III C, two new, larger types of drinking vessels, the krater (75) and
tankard,39were
introduced, possibly a sign that in this period the Mycenaean groups at Psychro may have
engaged in practices different from those in the earlier cult.
In conclusion, this ceramic study suggests that the use of the Psychro sanctuary was
tied to the state centre of its region, that is, to Malia during MM I-LM I A and to Knossos
in LM I B-LM III A1/P. During each of these periods Psychro seems to have functioned,
at least in part, as an official sanctuary for state cult.

Departmentof Art History L. VANCE WATROUS


Universityat Buffalo, The State Universityof New York

35 F de Polignac, La Naissance de la citi grecque(Paris, 36J.and M. Shaw, 'Mycenaean Kommos', in Driessen


1995). This practice could also be extended to urban and Farnoux (n. 21), 423-4; V. La Rosa (n. n7), 91-8.
shrines, as Herodotus (v. 73) informs us that Dorians were 37 Ibid.
forbidden to enter the temple of Athena on the acropolis 38 Psychro,no. 124.
at Athens. s39Ibid., nos. 112, 114, 115.

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PLATE 4

1 li!ii~~i~iii~
145

1 12?
125
180
(a) (b)

6o! 8 I 4

40 49 79
7i~~ii 13
154

30 136
135
(c) (d) 146 3

5ii 45

2
14 15
(e) (f)

164

67

41

10

(g)
WATROUS
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PLATE 5

11

31
11 43
47 149

(a) (b)

160 169
59

35
109
98
(c) (d)

162 161
62

159 117
12 104
(e) (f)

1588 44

116 18
27,~
(g) (h)
WATROUS
NEW POTTERY FROM THE PSYCHRO CAVE AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR MINOAN CRETE

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PLATE 6

127

148
3
(a) (b) (c)

172 170
17 3
113

28 109
69
(d) (e)

17 4
56 129 130

140 55 133 163 131


176
(f) (g)
WATROUS
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PLATE 7

52
50

147 107 46

(a) (b)

101i 100

54
16 114
137
(c) (d)

39 61

37
24
~165
(e) (f)

126
103
76:
38

(g) (h)
WATROUS
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PLATE 8

58o

49
50
17
152
(a) (b)

78
168

87

86 80
81
88
84 167
166 82
83
(c) (d)

95 92 86
85

91 93 16i6 80
90
(e) (f)

51 42 33 44 68
60
64

65' 72 153
66 d97 151 9
(g) (h)
WATROUS
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PLATE 9

108 115 99
1 20

55 75
:106 77 103

(a) (b)

i!121:
70
74
71

171 102~
(c) 118i
(id)

S23 13 9
105 112 150

89
73 143 157 110 111
(e) (f)

122
12 3
124 79 121

134
178 61
179 48
w
96
(g) (h)
WATROUS
NEW POTTERY FROM THE PSYCHRO CAVE AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR MINOAN CRETE

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PLATE 10

48 63
"57' 15 158

15 6
126

32 2 84 96

(a) (b)

165

142 160 141 26

53

29 29
128 138 132

(c) (d)
WATROUS
NEW POTTERY FROM THE PSYCHRO CAVE AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR MINOAN CRETE

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