The Athenian Cavalry Archives of the Fourth and Third Centuries B.C.

Abstract

trators faced and ably solved the problem of setting up, controlling, and servicing name files of considerable size. Such evidence has now become available, thanks to two surprising discoveries that have brought to light the archives, or at least part of the archives, of the Athenian cavalry of the fourth and third centuries b.c.1 In recent years underwater archaeology has contributed much to the exploration of the past. What might be termed well-archaeology has emerged as an almost equally important and no less hazardous activity, for wells have become veritable treasure-troves of the archaeologist.2 In 1965, German archaeologists recovered 574 lead tablets of the third century b.c. from a well within the courtyard of the Dipylon, the double-gate leading into the city of Athens from the north. Diagnosed as archives of the Athenian cavalry, these tablets were published and splendidly commented on by Karin Braun of the German Archaeological Institute.3 Four years later, a smaller number of similar tablets of the fourth and third centuries b.c. were rescued from a well at the edge of the excavated section of Athens' Market Square by the Agora staff of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens. This