2022

Aegean Archaeology

Rocznik: 2022 | Tom: 13

artykuł naukowy

angielski

EN The aim of this paper is to summarize the author's research on the little-known transition between the Late and Final Neolithic in Crete. The work was originally stimulated by an excavation at Monastiraki Katalimata - an extreme example of a defensible Final Neolithic site, located in the Cha gorge (eastern Crete). This extraordinary early Final Neolithic site raised questions regarding the historical processes which on one hand determined the decline of the Neolithic way of life (as represented by the Magasa type sites), including settlement patterns and social organization, and on the other opened a new chapter of development in the late Final Neolithic leading to the Early Bronze Age world. Although substantial progress has already been achieved regarding the main aspects of settlement change in Final Neolithic Crete, settlement patterns preceding the retreat to defensible sites remain vague and based on a few sites only. This paper will focus on that part of the problem, and the arguments will be supported by a series of pre-Final Neolithic sites identified recently.

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