Ancient Mediterranean Archaeology and History
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Abstract
Abstract
This paper presents a bottom-up perspective on the socioeconomic landscape of Mycenaean Pylos, based on the hitherto untapped potential of legacy survey data. Since the mid-20th century, intensive surface surveys have transformed our understanding of entire regions of the Mediterranean, yet interpretations relying primarily on site-size hierarchies impose a narrow view on the datasets, rendering peripheral sites into passive members of centralized political formations. Using functional analysis of Late Bronze Age ceramics (LH I–LH IIIB2, ca. 1600–1180 BC) collected by the Pylos Regional Archaeological Project (PRAP), this study compares assemblages from both large secondary centers and smaller rural sites within the palatial territory. The results show that communities differed not only in size but also in social status, economic practices, and access to goods, revealing a degree of local agency within the Pylian territory. While similar bottom-up approaches have been applied in other Mediterranean contexts, this study brings such perspectives into the discussion of Mycenaean states, underscoring the value of re-examining legacy survey data to explore regional patterns of social and economic organization.
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@article{Tsiolaki2026Pylos,
title = {The Pylos Hinterland Revisited},
author = {Efthymia Tsiolaki},
journal = {Journal of Mediterranean Archaeology},
year = {2026},
doi = {10.1558/jma.35986},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1558/jma.35986}
}FAQ
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