Neolithic Society in Greece. (Brief Reviews of Books).

Kardulias, P. Nick

Neolithic Society in Greece. Edited by PAUL HALSTEAD Sheffield Studies in Aegean Archaeology, vol. 2. Sheffield: SHEFFIELD ACADEMIC PRESS, 1999. Pp. 163, illus. [pounds sterling]14.95, $19.95 (paper).

This collection offers an up-to-date compendium of recent work on Neolithic sites in mainland and insular Greece. The articles range from broad syntheses to brief preliminary reports, and this disparity gives a somewhat uneven feel to the volume. While the authors discuss sites in various regions, Thessaly and southern Macedonia are the subjects of seven articles (out of thirteen) and skew the geographical coverage. Nonetheless, this book is a very useful reference source on early agricultural societies in Greece.

The articles in the volume fall into two basic categories: those with a regional focus that deal with general issues and the examination of theoretical models to interpret the Neolithic material record, and others that discuss individual sites. Generally, the former group offers more penetrating analysis. Broodbank sets a high standard in the initial article in which he argues that the colonization of Aegean islands took place intermittently over a number of millennia. Broodbank identifies nine cells of island colonization in which the different settlement processes formed the basis of later cultural differentiation. Many of the other articles offer important insights into the nature of Neolithic society. After a systematic spatial analysis, Perles concludes that the distribution of magoules (mounds) in eastern Thessaly was due to social factors (e.g., cooperative labor organization), and not to environmental conditions. Branigan's discussion of Neolithic settlement in two upland basins of eastern Crete seems to reveal a short-lived experiment in the use of marginal land for pastoral activity. Kotsakis argues that the differences between extended or flat sites and tells reflect changes in production strategies and a concomitant symbolic stress on continuity. Halstead carries this analysis further with his discussion of household structure. In an intriguing article, he claims that Greek Neolithic households became increasingly isolated over several millennia; competition replaced reciprocity, as reflected in the "ostentatious emphasis on household antecedents" (p. 91) in the remains of tells. Perles and Vitelli offer a provocative assessment of craft specialization in Neolithic Greece, arguing that the production, exchange, and use of stone tools and ceramics involved cultural choices that were more important than technical elements. Vitelli's case for Neolithic potters as "ritual healers" whose skills formed a social anchor in a period of considerable change would be strengthened by the presentation of some ethno graphic examples.

The remaining seven articles deal with specific sites. Five of these concern Makriyalos in Macedonia. As one of the few thoroughly excavated extended settlements, the site is clearly important, and the lead article by Pappa and Besios does a fine job of presenting the relevant information. The four articles that follow are all brief preliminary reports, and while each makes an important point, the material could have been summarized in the Pappa and Besios essay. The last two articles in the volume present information on two cave sites, Theopetra in Thessaly and Zas on Naxos. The range of materials found in these two caves, the indications of both local production and imports, and the suggested uses by pastoralists who were linked to agricultural communities provide ample evidence for the diverse ways in which Neolithic residents of the Aegean adapted to and exploited the highly variable environments that they encountered.

Technically, the book is well produced. Halstead is to be complemented for the careful cross-referencing between the articles. There are a few minor typographical errors and some disagreement on the spelling of place names, but these do not detract from the book's value. One feature that would have been welcome is an index.

This book serves well as a statement on the current status of Neolithic studies in Greece. In addition to good descriptions of artifacts and features, many of the authors present theoretically sophisticated analyses. The book does not sustain its momentum throughout. After an invigorating start and substantial middle section, the last part falters a bit, but the concluding two papers get the book back on track. All of the authors attempt, most of them successfully, to position their work in a manner that will resonate with scholars who work outside the Aegean. Clearly, this book demonstrates that the prehistory of Greece has much to contribute to a broader understanding of the Neolithic in Europe and western Asia.