W.G. Cavanagh, C. Gallou & M. Georgiadis (ed.). Sparta and Laconia: from prehistory to premodern.

Stewart, Daniel R.

W.G. CAVANAGH, C. GALLOU & M. GEORGIADIS (ed.). Sparta and Laconia: from prehistory to premodern (British School at Athens Studies 16). xxxii + 424 pages, 407 b&w & colour illustrations, 6 tables. 2009. London: British School at Athens; 978-0-904887-61-7 hardback 97 [pounds sterling].

The British School at Athens' interest in Laconia is long-standing. In 1904, the BSA published its first papers on Laconian subjects: one on epigraphy and another on a topographical study in the tradition of Pausanias. Shortly thereafter, spades first broke ground in the BSA-sponsored excavations at Geraki (now a Dutch project). From the beginning, the BSA's interest in Laconia has been an eclectic mix of epigraphy, archaeology and art history. This volume, produced to commemorate the 100th anniversary of British interest in Laconia, is very much the product of this tradition.

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The volume contains the proceedings of a conference held at Sparta in 2005; there are 42 papers arranged in 5 sections. Most papers are in English (of the 42, 9 are in Greek and 1 is in French) and there are abstracts, in both English and Greek for all the papers. The volume is arranged roughly chronologically: 9 articles concern prehistory, 21 Archaic to Roman subjects, 9 medieval and later topics, and 3 could be classed roughly as historiographical. The papers are a mix of specialised studies on particular artefact classes (Early Helladic ceramics, Mycenaean terracottas, Archaic bronzes, ivory reliefs, Droop cups, urns, Roman statuary) and round-ups of current work on individual sites (various Neolithic caves, Geraki, Epidaurus Limera, the city of Sparta) or site types (caves, quarries, cemeteries, religious structures), and as with any such collection the contents are variable.

Those papers that focus on individual sites will be of interest only to a specialised few, as little interpretation is included amongst the descriptions of pottery assemblages and artefact classes. The exceptions to this are the contributions by Greek Ephoreia staff describing the rescue excavations in and around the modern city of Sparta, as the Greek system has no real equivalent of the 'grey' literature common in Britain and publication of any sort is vitally important. Of the prehistoric papers, the most interesting to this reviewer are those by Mee and Cavanagh, which seek to situate the archaeology of Laconia within broader archaeological discussions of connectivity and territoriality. The highlights within the Archaic to Roman periods include a novel reassessment of bronze manufacturing by Stibbe, Roy's study of the changing frontier between Sparta and Arkadia up to c. 370 BC and its role in shaping local identities, and Kennell's assessment of the third century AD 'civic militia' of Sparta. Also of note are the implications in Langridge-Noti's and Pickersgill's papers on ceramic assemblages at Geraki and Roman Sparta respectively, both studies of local assemblages from stratified deposits which will help to complement, refine (and perhaps refute) regional trends observed in surface survey.

It is interesting to note that 6 out of the 9 Greek contributions are in the section devoted to the medieval and later periods, perhaps suggestive of a renewed emphasis on later historical periods within Greece, and a shift away from the traditional focus on Classical antiquity. Of note are Bakourou's paper on extra-mural Middle Byzantine public buildings, Armstrong's examination of the twelfth-century olive oil trade, and Morris' historiographical appraisal of early modern travellers to Sparta. However, many of the contributions in this section are quite narrow and specific, and either describe the topography of individual sites, detail aspects of particular buildings, or outline the methodology of ongoing projects without providing results. So while it is heartening to see Byzantine and later periods become the focus of research, it is disappointing that little synthesis or interpretation beyond the site is offered.

This volume is well produced, despite some inconsistencies in anglicising Greek terms, and in the formatting of references (some in-text, some in footnotes, some non-existent). But beyond the superficial, it is difficult to characterise such a diverse collection. That contributions should vary in quality, style and breadth of interest is to be expected in a publication of this sort. Some papers are rather insular and descriptive and will interest few beyond a handful of like-minded specialists. Others offer unique insights into the archaeology of Laconia and highlight significant finds that will undoubtedly change our understanding of the region, and will appeal to all those with an interest in the southern Peloponnese.

Bur only a scant few tie developments in Laconia to broader Peloponnesian and Mediterranean trends in a critical and theoretically-informed manner, and these should rightly fuel synthetic studies for some time to come. In short, this volume is an epitome of the 100 years of scholarly endeavour it seeks to commemorate.

DANIEL R. STEWART

School of Archaeology and Ancient History, University of Leicester, UK

(Email: ds120@le.ac.uk)