Interaction and the end of the Late Bronze Age as displayed through neutron activation analysis of Late Helladic sherds: a case study on Asine in the Argolid, Greece

This article discusses the results of neutron activation analysis made on a limited number of LH IIIB and LH IIIC period sherds from the Argive settlement Asine, Greece. The analysis indicates that the transformation from the palatial to the post-palatial period, on a local level of a village as Asine, was not signified by loss of contacts with the surrounding world. Rather continuity and interaction prevailed, although with other geographical areas as production and use of pottery in the LH IIIB period apparently had a more regional preponderance. The geographical dominance of pottery assigned to producers in north-eastern Peloponnese and distributed over the Mediterranean was terminated, but other operators may have responded to the demand for pottery.

Automated summary

The results of neutron activation analysis on a limited number of LH IIIB and LH IIIC period sherds from Asine in Greece suggest that the transformation from the palatial to post-palatial period did not result in loss of contacts with the surrounding world. Instead, continuity and interaction prevailed, with a shift in the regional dominance of pottery production in the LH IIIB period. The geographical dominance of pottery producers in northeastern Peloponnese and their distribution over the Mediterranean ended, but other operators might have met the demand for pottery.