User:Dolowlyoh/sandbox

= Archaeology of Greece = The archaeology of Greece has been and will continue to be a major historically complex feat, through its broad and vast insight into the past civilizations of which the modern-day Greece known to us, has been forged. Through looking at the vast periods on the historical and archaeological record of the country, archaeologists manage to piece together a significant understanding of the people and the earth thousands of years ago, within this region of the world.

Hunter-Gatherers
Hunter-gatherers of prehistoric Greece are almost unknown to the historical record due to the geological processes which have inhibited archaeologists from studying the period through vast destruction or accidental consumption of archaeological remains that causes them to remain hidden (Bintliff 2012:29) .Hand axes are the first sign of human activity that appears on the Greek archaeological record, however, archaeologists struggle to come to conclusions regarding this period of Greek history due to the lack of abundance of Greek find spots that relate to the hunter-gatherer period (Bintliff 2012:29).

Bronze Age
Much of Bronze Age Greece history has been left hidden or subject to significant interpretation by modern archaeologists; through studying archaeological remains, prominent archaeologists in this period of Greek history, including Sir Arthur Evans and Colin Renfrew, piece together a narrative that appears most plausible when considered parallel to written sources. One of the Cycladic civilizations of Bronze Age Greece, the Minoans, have left behind a vast array of archaeological wonders. One of the greatest artefact’s archaeologists have uncovered at Minoan Crete sites, including the Palace of Knossos and smaller palaces at sites of Phaistos and Zakros, is the myriad of vessels containing both grain and oil. These archaeological remains at the palaces have allowed archaeologists to formulate conclusions regarding the efficiency of what is thought to be a palace economy structure within the civilization. The abundance of vessel remains proves far greater than what would be needed for self-sufficiency and so has led archaeologists to believe that these communities were trading surpluses elsewhere (Bintliff 2012:94).

Iron Age
Following the demise of the Minoans, the Mycenaeans appeared during Iron Age Greece and lived and worked in almost near exact conditions to the Minoans of Bronze Age Greece. Similar to the structure and community system of the Minoan civilization, the Mycenaeans of Iron Age Greece lived in great palace structures. What is known as the palatial period, saw to the Myceneans success with fortified walls, community manufacturing, an elite ruling class, and marine trade (Deger-Jalkotzy et al. 2006:531).

Classical Period
Objects uncovered by archaeologists, which belong to Classical Greece (510 BC – 323 BC), have created an almost gilded appearance for the whole of the material record from the country’s history (Whitley 2001:11). Archaeologists commonly use field surveying techniques to unearth material that may identify farming settlements of the period. Few sites suggested as farming sites have included archaeological remains of evening lamps, weaving equipment, and storage vessels to hold agricultural surpluses (Bintliff 2012:270) .The issue with many of these sites is the lack of finds-assemblages with only one or two prominent indicators of domestic use or permanent residence being found. To counter this is the off-site finds that archaeologists project as discarded material from permanent residencies in a nearby area (Bintliff 2012:270). Another point that helps Classical archaeology of Greece to glisten is the fact that its art, which is a strong feature of what classical archaeology consists of, is most highly regarded in comparison to art of alternative civilizations or differing time periods in history (Whitley 2001:11)

The Early Modern Period
The early modern period of Greek archaeology begins at the end of the Ottoman domination over the region, and the beginning of the Greek state with its founding in 1830 (Bintliff 2012:478). Due to the modernity of the period, in terms of archaeological remains, there is an abundance of both movable material culture and standing buildings or the remains of ruined foundations (Bintliff 2012:480) .Through studying such things as landscape architecture, archaeologists have assumed theories on the differences between land use during the Ottoman domination and the beginning of a modern, and democratic Greek state.

Archaeology and Politics
Greece as a country is subjected to debt and bankruptcy, however, the countries money deficiencies are relieved through tourism; tourism throughout the country and region is most significantly influenced by the vast history and archaeological remains the country has to offer (Arestis et al. 2012:119-158). The political situation of the country determines the extent of initiative that is taken and the amount of funds that are available for archaeological practices as well as conservation. The famous issue of the Elgin Marbles being returned from the British Museum to the Parthenon was never intended as a political means to satiate the economic crisis within the country, however, the return of the artefacts materialized despite the debate revolving around a nationalistic cause (Howery 2013:249) .Another example of politics feeding into the realm of archaeology within Greece is the 1984 legislation preventing the exportation of antiquities, ultimately aimed at protecting notions of sovereignty over the nation’s territory, including its heritage (Voutsaki et al. 2017:118)