Ornaments and Other Ambiguous Artifacts from Franchthi: Volume 2, the Neolithic(Excavations at Franchthi Cave, Greece)

The famous Franchthi Cave excavations in Greece brought to light an exceptionally long sequence of ornaments, spanning from the earliest Upper Paleolithic to the end of the Neolithic. This volume focuses on the Neolithic, whose assemblages are far more diversified than those of earlier times. The introduction during the Neolithic of entirely artificial shapes, geometric and anthropomorphic, creates a marked departure from earlier periods and shows new directions in creativity by the bead makers. It also denotes a conceptual break in the treatment of shell, no longer solely a natural element barely modified by perforation, but now also a raw material rendered anonymous by workmanship. Due to the systematic sieving of the sediments and its location by the sea, the Franchthi cave and its outdoor settlement, the Paralia, yielded one of the richest collection of ornaments for Neolithic Greece.

Table of Contents:
Preface Introduction 1. A Compulsory Detour Through Discussions of Procedures Part I: The Initial Neolithic 2. Newcomers or Local Groups? The Initial Neolithic Assemblage Part II: The Early Neolithic 3. An Overview of Early Neolithic Ornament Assemblages 4. Colourful Beads, Pendants, and Studs 5. The Cerastoderma Bead Production: A Case of Apprenticeship? 6. Perforated Shells: Traditional Types and New Standards 7. Early Neolithic WATs 8. Early Neolithic Innovations Part III: The Middle Neolithic 9. An Overview of Middle Neolithic Ornament Assemblages 10. Variation in Middle Neolithic Beads and Pendants 11. Perforated and Unperforated Shells: More Questions 12. Middle Neolithic WATs 13. Middle Neolithic Ornaments in Context Part IV: The Late Neolithic 14. An Overview of Late Neolithic Assemblages 15. Late Neolithic Discoid and Cylindrical Beads: Variation in Black and White 16. Late Neolithic Ornaments other than Beads 17. The Puzzle(s) of the Late Neolithic Part V: The Final Neolithic 18. The Final Neolithic: A Return to Traditional Values 19. Material from Mixed Contexts Epilogue: Lessons from a Diversified Sequence Appendix 1: Distribution of the Material by Unit in the Main Sequences Studied Appendix 2: Mission archéométrique de caractérisation des matériauxlithiques de parure du site de Franchthi (Grèce), juillet 2010 by B. Mille Appendix 3: List of Catalogued Pieces Considered Unworked or Reattributedand not Mentioned in the Text Appendix 4: List of Shells Considered as Naturally or Accidentally Perforated Appendix 5: Shell Tools Appendix 6: Spondylus Valves Appendix 7: Polished Steatite Artifacts References Index

About the Author :
Catherine Perlès is Emeritus Professor at the University of Nanterre and holds an honorary degree from Indiana University. She is author of several books, including The Early Neolithic in Greece and volumes on the chipped stones assemblages and ornaments from Franchthi Cave.