Settlement and Land Use on the Periphery: The Bouros-Kastri Peninsula, Southern Euboia

by Jere M. Wickens, Susan I. Rotroff, Tracey Cullen

The Bouros-Kastri peninsula at the south-eastern tip of the Greek island of Euboia has previously been overlooked in the archaeological literature. This survey by the Southern Euboea Exploration Project, conducted under the aegis of the Canadian Institute in Greece, now provides a wealth of intriguing information about fluctuations in long-term use and habitation in this part of the Karystia. While the peninsula is agriculturally poor, its coast is blessed with several small coastal inlets and one important ancient port, Geraistos. These provide access to vital maritime routes and connect the peninsula to Athens and other Aegean ports. The survey revealed modest use of the peninsula during the Neolithic and Early Bronze Age; it was then virtually abandoned for the following two and a half millennia. Occupation resumed in the Late Archaic–Early Classical period, followed by near desertion in the 3rd century BC of all but some coastal sites, a resurgence of activity in the Late Roman period, and modest use in Byzantine and Ottoman times. The authors analyse the ways in which the peninsula's use was connected to that of the main urban centre at Karystos, and how the peninsula and the greater Karystia were integrated into the political, economic, and cultural spheres of Athens and the broader region.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Introduction

Previous Research by SEEP in the Karystia

Archaeological Work on the Bouros-Kastri Peninsula

Goals and Scope of the Bouros-Kastri Survey

Chapter 2: Topography, Geology, and Tectonics

Topography

Geology and Tectonics of Southern Euboia

Geomorphology

Tectonics, Sea-Level Changes, and Palaeoclimates

Paleozoic–Mesozoic Bedrock

Cenozoic Rocks and Sediments

Soils

Natural Resources

Natural Hazards

Chapter 3: Chronological Overview of the Karystia

Prehistory

Late Neolithic

Final Neolithic

Early Bronze Age

Middle Bronze Age

Late Bronze Age

Historical Periods

Early Iron Age

Classical

Hellenistic to Middle Roman

Late Roman

Byzantine

Tourkokratia and Modern

Chapter 4: Settlement and Land Use on the Bouros-Kastri Peninsula

Procedural Considerations

Field Methodology

Sample Size, Sources of Bias, and Chronology

Site Function and Typology

Prehistoric Period

Geometric to Early Hellenistic Period

Description of Sites and Findspots by Area

Summary and Conclusions

Middle Hellenistic through Middle Roman Periods

Description of Sites

Summary and Conclusions

Late Roman Period

Description of Sites

Summary and Conclusions

Byzantine to Modern Period

Undated Sites

Chapter 5: Analysis of Artifacts

Prehistoric Pottery

Final Neolithic

Early Bronze Age

Prehistoric Stone Tool Assemblages

Component A, Component A'

Component B

Component C

Dating of the Components

Historic Pottery

Greek and Roman Fabrics

Local The Akrotiri Cooking Assemblage

Other Local Cooking Pottery

Local Coarse Ware

Transport Amphoras

Roman Plain and Cooking Ware

Byzantine Pottery

Modern Pottery

Chapter 6: Summary and Final Thoughts

Gazetteer of Sites and Findspots

Bibliography

Index

282 pages, Paperback

Published July 25, 2018