Mycenaean Pottery on Kos: Ceramic Technology and Its Socio-Cultural Impact

Kos’ prominent position close to the mainland, Crete, the Cyclades, and the Anatolian coast, encapsulates the technological and cultural dynamics of the Aegean in the Late Bronze Age. The pottery from the two Mycenaean cemeteries of Eleona and Langada was excavated by Luigi Morricone from 1934 to 1946, and includes both local pottery productions and imported vessels. By applying the most recent methods of technological analysis to the study of this assemblage, this study shows how the technological knowledge and skills of Koan potters, as well as the cultural identity of the island, changed during the final stages of the Bronze Age. The comparison between local productions and imported materials offers a challenging opportunity to understand how elements of Mycenaean culture were perceived and embedded in the Koan local tradition. Kos underwent a significant process of Mycenaeanization, but never fully abandoned its own local tradition. Mycenaean cultural elements were adapted by Koan potters to suit the needs and preferences of the local community. The adaptation of the Mycenaean tradition, as well as the persistence of features derived from the local tradition, resulted in the creation of a distinct and independent Koan identity within the wider Aegean context.