This is the account of an excavation by the British School at Athens at
the major Mycenaean settlement in the central Eurotas valley of Laconia,
close to the site of ancient and modern Sparta, in the south-central
Peloponnese. The site was first identified and partly explored by the
British School (under its sixth Director, R. M. Dawkins) in 1909-10.
This volume presents the results of fieldwork undertaken by the School
in 1973-77, 1980 and 1985, led by the then Director, H. W. Catling.
Excavation of the Mycenaean settlement concentrated on the upper part of
the Menelaion ridge - comprising the North Hill, the Menelaion and
Prophitis Elias Hills, and Aetos - covering an area of not less than 10
hectares. The ridge may have been first occupied during the Final
Neolithic; there had certainly been a small Early Helladic settlement.
All three hilltops had traces of Middle Helladic use, including several
burials. Reinvestigation of the 1910 complex on the Menelaion Hill
revealed superimposed 'Mansions', the earlier built in the 15th c. BC
(LH IIB), the later in the earlier 14th c.(LH IIIA1). Their plans
suggest prototypes for the much larger 13th c. palaces at Mycenae,
Tiryns and Epano Englianos (Pylos). On the North Hill remains were
damaged by severe erosion, but on Aetos a 15th-13/12th c. building
sequence was associated with a ruined, once massive terrace wall. The
present volume presents an exhaustive account of the Bronze Age
structures (ca 50 in all) spread across the Menelaion Ridge. Detailed
considerations of the stratigraphy and architecture are supported by
approximately 175 plans and sections; a further 25 in-text illustrations
elucidate specific features. The pottery from each deposit is presented
in catalogue format, supported by statistical analyses, drawings and
photographs. In addition, there is an overall appraisal of the ceramic
finds, in relation to those attested elsewhere in mainland Greece and
beyond. Also catalogued and discussed are 'small finds', including
objects of metal, terracotta figurines, spinning and weaving equipment,
and objects of stone. The few seals and sealings are described by H.
Hughes-Brock. Painted wall plasters and architectural stone are also
fully treated. A final chapter considers topographical and environmental
issues, and places the Menelaion within the context of both Laconian and
wider Aegean developments Much further information is gathered in CD-Rom
form, including the 1910 excavation records and commentary; and full
qualitative and quantitative tabulations of uncatalogued pottery.
Appendices by R. E. Jones present technical analyses of plasters and
pigments; XRF analysis of bronzes; the proton magnetometer survey; and
chemical analyses of pottery (with J. Tomlinson). Further appendices
concern human skeletal material (N. Brodie); and animal bone (G. Jones).