Ceramic Evidence for Northern Intruders in Southern Greece at the Beginning of the Late Helladic IIIC Period

Abstract

Three whole pots and sherds of thirteen other vases from early Late Helladic IIIC contexts at the site of Korakou are identified as non-Mycenaean on the grounds of fabric, shape, decoration, and surface treatment. It is argued that, although being alien to Mycenaean ceramics, these pieces were nevertheless manufactured locally. They are thus taken to be evidence of an intrusive population element whose ultimate origin is to be sought in Bulgaria or possibly Rumania, where the intrusive pottery has its closest published affinities in material of earlier date. Discoveries of comparable non-Mycenaean pottery in roughly contemporary contexts at the other southern Greek sites of Lefkandi, Perati, Athens, and Mycenae suggest that the presence of northern intruders at Korakou may be more than a local phenomenon. The close correspondence between certain classes of the intrusive Korakou pottery and particular wares found at Troy only in the VIIb 1 and 2 settlements points towards a parallel situation at Troy where one or more new population elements probably settled following the destruction of Troy VIIa. Connection of the intruders with disturbances in southern Greece at the end of LH IIIB and with the destruction of Troy VIIa is possible, but far from certain. No reliable estimate of the numbers of the intruders can be made on the basis of evidence at present available.