Though tortoises are not objects of value, and unlikely to have been used as sacrificial victims, Pausanias describes representations of them in conjunction with a deity in a few sanctuaries. The reasons for this, and the part played by tortoise shells in cults is discussed.

Evidence for Greek settlements in the Troad is discussed, and their status, whether as full cities, or smaller communities.

Two vases reputedly from the village of Vrondama, located some 7km. SW of Geraki in Central Laconia, add significantly to the corpus of Laconian Dark Age pottery, since they represent both ends of the chronological spectrum. The vases are an askos and oinochoe. The askos can be dated to the very early Dark Ages, perhaps even to the transition from LH IIIC to DA, and does much to narrow the gap in Laconia between the end of IIIC and the beginning of DA. The oinochoe, on the other hand, may serve as a transition between the end of DA and the beginning of Laconian LG, for parallels, primarily from Argos, provide a general chronological framework of MG II. The oinochoe is, therefore, as important a transtitional piece for the end of Laconian DA as the askos is for the beginning.

The six fragments newly presented here derive from the British excavations outside the citadel, conducted in the period 1950–55. They were found in various parts of the site. The material is at present (1987) kept in the Leonardo storerooms of the Archaeological Museum at Nauplia.

Evidence is adduced to show that the toponym Dikta and its adjectival form Diktaios, which have been applied to a variety of locations in Central and Eastern Crete, belong properly to the ancient site currently being reinvestigated by the British School at Palaikastro. Alternative identifications are attributed to the confusion of the various traditions concerning the birth and upbringing of Cretan Zeus which becomes evident in ancient sources in the Hellenistic period. The invention of a Diktaian cave is shown to be the product of a similar process of conflation. A further element of confusion has been added by the citation of a Hellenistic boundary text. The correct identification of Dikta provides a toponymic continuity linking the phases of occupation of the archaeological site at Palakastro.

A terracotta Minoan figurine of a horned beetle from the Peak Sanctuary on Mt Prinias is discussed. It is shown to be a rhyton, and presumably made for cult purposes. The reasons for offerings of such beetles is investigated, and the connection with Egyptian scarabs is raised.

An account of an accidental discovery in a built tomb at Menemen of Anatolian Late Bronze pottery together with imported Mycenaean III pottery and bronze objects, including the fragment of a decorated sword. The associations and implications of the material are fully discussed.

The large numbers and variety of forms of this object type that have gradually accumulated in the last half century permit now of an overall review, drawing in part on earlier and more individual accounts. Following the Catalogue, five broad typological classes are discussed, analysed in detail, and manufacture and method of employment deduced, as far as possible. Geographical and chronological distribution is looked at. The Pre-Palatial period sees only the use of ‘mats’ – turned manually merely as the potter desired in building up his pot by hand; centrifugal force is harnessed at the perioid of the creation of the First Palaces – the freely-revolving wheel appears. Rapidly, before the construction of the Neo-Palatial buildings, a wheelhead incorporating a fly-wheel effect was devised, probably set low on the ground, pivoting in a fixed basal socket.

This note is the first in an occasional series to add and expand the Unexplored Mansion report (the Other Finds section): the first part records the identification of pieces of emeryore(s) of a heavier calibre than previously recognized (LM II predominately); whilst the second draws together items of stone and clay pulled out from the Post-Minoan levels – personal ornament, vases, a ‘ritual’ hammer, a mould, and a ‘firestand’.

A small number of clay pipes for smoking tobacco (of the Eastern or tsimbouchi variety) were uncovered in the Knossos Medical Faculty excavations. These are first catalogued and discussed, and then compared with other published material from Greek lands within the Ottoman Empire. Because such study is still in its infancy, the conclusions are but slight: the KMF pieces, lying relatively early within the series (perhaps broadly the 18th century AD), display a considerable range of variation ‥ not all of which can be paralleled yet from elsewhere.

Reasonable doubts exist with regard to the conclusions that have been drawn from the ostraca found in the Athenian Agora as well as those from the fill of the Rectangular Rock-cut shaft on the Agora Hill. These doubts extend to the dating of the buildings along the west side of the Agora. A re-examination of the published accounts leads to the conclusion that Buildings C and D, the Temple of Apollo and the shrine of Zeus were built before 480 and were destroyed by the Persians, who were also responsible for digging the Rectangular Rock-cut Shaft. Building F was erected soon after 479. By 450, the Heliaia, the Tholos, the Old Bouleuterion, a Public Records Office and the Royal Stoa were constructed. The public buildings in question all seem to have been built as a consequence of the political reforms brought about by Ephialtes in the late 460s. They are probably the few extant physical remains of the early days of Periclean democracy.

The recent publication of the Attic black-figured pottery from the sanctuary of Aphaia on Aegina has brought into question the widely accepted date for the construction of the late archaic temple and its sculpture. Much of the pottery comes from the terrace system around the temple which preceded the building's construction. 47.7% of the black-figured pottery is later than the commonly assumed date of c. 510 for the destruction and rebuilding of the temple. Using the latest pottery and the widely accepted Studniczka-Langlotz chronology a terminus post quem is provided during the time of the Persian Wars. The range of pottery also shows that the terrace fills around the temple fall into the same chronological horizon as deposits at Athens which have been linked to the Persian destruction and may, in fact, be even later. The historical context for the rebuilding seems to be in the affluent years after the Persian Wars when the cities of Greece were able to benefit from booty won on the field of battle.

The stele recording the victories of the Spartan Damonon and his son is reconsidered, and dated 403 B.C. It is argued that consequently other key examples of Lakonian lettering should be lowered in date.

Since the early nineteenth century, scholars have wondered whether certain accretions on the surface of the Parthenon sculptures, ranging in colour from yellow to brown, may represent evidence of ancient paint. The tendency has been to reject this notion, and today most classical archaeologists would accept the suggestion that this apparent staining of the marble is caused by the oxidation of iron particles coming from within the marble itself. While not rejecting this as the probable explanation for some of the brown areas, this article will argue that others can be understood only in terms of an artificially applied surface. Possible explanations as to the date and function of this material will be discussed in the light of both archaeological observation and scientific analysis. Firstly, however, a summary will be given of the important contributions made to our understanding of this problem by earlier commentators.

A new approach to Aegean ivory working, described in this article, demonstrates that in addition to elephant tusk, carvers made use of hippopotamus ivory throughout the Bronze Age. A brief introduction describes the background to the present study and the methods adopted here. The characteristics of elephant ivory and hippopotamus ivory are summarised and examples are given which show how morphological or structural features visible in finished objects enable us to identify the kind of ivory present. The central section presents a range of objects identified, during recent research, as made from hippopotamus ivory. These include prepalatial seals, inlays ranging in date from MMI toLH IIIB, certain Mycenaean plaques and warrior heads. Frequently it is possible to determine how these objects were made, less often why hippopotamus tusk was used. The final sections discuss the question of ivory sources and attempt to draw together the various strands of evidence for ivory working in the Aegean Bronze Age.

The system is described in detail with reference to the first stone-by-stone plans and photographs of the interior. An analysis of function concludes that the main aim of the system when constructed in Middle Minoan IIA was to drain the Central Court; this remained its primary function until at least Late Minoan I. During the great building programme of Middle Minoan IIIA, the system was expanded to serve new Light Wells, with further additions before the south part of the drains was blocked sometime during Late Minoan I. Next, a stone U-shaped channel was installed to allow the north section to function; the destruction of Late Minoan IIIA:2 is likely to have caused the final blockage of the system.

A second season of new excavations was undertaken at Palaikastro in 1987 in the area of Building 1, partially revealed last year, and in the adjacent fields to the south. Two new structures were denned, Buildings 3 and 4, and most of the plan of Building 1 traced. Features suggesting that Building 1 was public and played a role in the religious life of the town in LM I are the high quality of its construction, a possible grandstand with stone horns of consecration, a large well-built drain at the entrance, its unique orientation, and the discovery of the torso and arms of a male chryselephantine statuette fallen from an upper storey into an open area near the building. The other buildings are not yet well-defined. Building 3 was constructed in LM I and re-occupied in LM III, but no inner partition walls have been found. An area with pier-and-door partitions and mudbrick walls was built against the southwest wall of the building and destroyed in LM IB. Building 4 seems to belong to the LM III period, although we have not yet investigated below the floors of the re-occupation period. Destruction deposits of the LM IIIA2/B period suggest an earthquake.

Results from a recent surface investigation in the southern Dodecanese are presented. New sites and moveable finds are described and roughly dated. Most of them appear to belong to a Late Chalcolithic horizon, in Anatolian chronological terms. Several sites, however, produced also material that could be dated to the Early Bronze and Middle Bronze Ages, whereas M M III to LM I and Mycenaean III A–B pottery comes from Nisyros, Rhodes, and Chalke. In conclusion, the significance and implication of the finds are discussed, and suggestions on future research strategies are made.

The nature of 8th century Corinthian contact with sites in Phokis, Ithaka and Epirus is discussed, and archaeological evidence from these areas re-examined. It is suggested that early exchange activity is more complex than has hitherto been recognised, and should be regarded as independent of subsequent colonisation. A change in the pattern of contacts is distinguished from c. 725, and it is argued that Corinthian western trade was redirected in the wake of colonisation. Possible motivation for contact is assessed, and it is suggested that metal, especially copper, may have been the main commodity exchanged. The nature and mechanisms of early exchange are discussed, and their implications for Corinthian state formation outlined. Evidence for Corinthian contacts elsewhere in the gulf region is assessed with particular reference to Achaia.