Thasos, the Gulf of Kavala and the Greek Colonisation (Part 2)

Last time, we discussed the geography of Thasos and its peraea. This time, we will be having a very brief look at the history of the region, from the early years of the Early Iron Age (beginning at ca. 1100 BCE in the north-eastern Aegean) to the Early Archaic transitional phases (ca. 700-675/50 BCE), to the ‘post-colonisation’ period (or ‘post-apoikism’ period, if we may utilise the Greek term, to avoid the non-applicable connotations of the modern ‘colonial’ terminology)

The Early Iron Age (EIA)

This period is, ironically, both poorly and extensively explored in the Thasian region. On the one hand, Kastri has been explored in detail (especially the four cemeteries surrounding the acropolis), and the typological studies focusing on the pottery of the site (particularly Dr. Koukouli-Chrysanthaki’s doctoral dissertation Protohistoric Thasos: the cemeteries of the Kastri settlement) have been invaluable for dating EIA material culture elements, not just for Thasos, but for the entirety of eastern Macedonia and coastal Thrace. On the other hand, Kastri is the only site in the Thasian region where EIA stratigraphy has been explored and published thoroughly. This means that the Early Iron Age remains a relatively ‘Dark’ Age for Thasos and its peraea as a whole.

This does not mean that other sites have not yielded EIA layers. The polis of Thasos itself has yielded a succession of EIA, transitional and post-apoikism layers, in what has come to be known as the ‘Bernard Trench’ (named after Paul Bernard, who first studied and published the material from the excavation in question in the 1960s). Early Iron Age pottery has also been found in mainland coastal sites, such as Neapolis and, most significantly, Oisyme. There, an Archaic sanctuary was erected over an EIA destruction layer, with burnt building remains and EIA pottery. As was the case in Thasos, the newly-established ‘Greek’ settlements seem to have been founded in sites with earlier, ‘Thracian’ installations. However, the extent and nature of EIA habitation remains unclear for most of these sites.

What is clear, beyond any doubt, is that the Early Iron Age in the Thasian region was not a period of stagnation, decline or isolation. The apparently crude, handmade ‘Thracian’ EIA pottery might not compare favorably with e.g. the high-quality, wheel-turned wares of their contemporary Attic workshops. However, Thasos and its peraea comprise only a smaller subset of a large ‘Thracian’ cultural whole, which extends up to at least modern-day Romania. It is telling that the pottery of the so-called ‘Babadag’ culture (named after the site in modern-day Tulcea, Romania) is near-identical, in many aspects, to what is produced at the time in coastal Thrace, several hundred kilometres to the south.

This indicates that individual communities might have been in contact with each other, over the several centuries of the ‘Thracian’ EIA; that there were networks of communication (most probably sequential but, nevertheless, of great importance) extending from the Aegean to the north of the Balkans. It is worth emphasizing the observed cultural homogeneity; and, perhaps more significantly, the apparent cultural stability, over many generations.

The transitional phase

Some changes can be observed around the first half of the 7th century. This is when the first indications of organized ‘Greek’ presence make their appearance, with the Parian apoikia of Thasos being founded around 675-650 BCE. However, even before the appearance of ‘Greek’ elements, the earlier ‘Thracian’ material culture paradigms get shaken up. The inhabitants of Thasos and its peraea start looking southwards. There is now evidence for maritime contact between the Thasian region and other Aegean islands, such as Lemnos and Lesbos. New, finer pottery types are introduced; innovation in material culture is the word of the day.

Perhaps none of the new pottery types is more representative of the period than the wheelmade ‘G2-3 Ware’. Vessels of this new fineware type are encountered throughout the north-eastern Aegean. At least three distinct production centres have been identified, in the Troad, the island of Lemnos and Thasos. It is not enough for the inhabitants of these regions to import these new, fine wares; instead, they seize the initiative for their local production (for more information on this type and the transitional phase in general, we strongly recommend the work of Petya Ilieva)

The post-apoikism phase

From around the second quarter of the 7th century BCE onwards, there is evidence for the permanent installation of Greek populations in Thasian space. The bibliography regarding the archaeological finds which document the arrival of new Greek settlers is extensive and diverse, to a degree beyond the scope of this project; the excavations of the French Archaeological School in the ancient polis of Thasos (partly published and available online in the series Études Thasiennes) can serve as a good jumping-off point for those interested in the early phases of the newly established polis of Thasos.

Suffice it to say that it is during this time that the arrival of the settlers from the Greek island of Paros greatly upset the already changing status quo in the region. This is when scholars date the poems of Archilochus, who mentions the clashes between the apoikists and the local Thracians. It is still unclear how extensive the martial clashes between the newcomers and the Thracians truly were, but it is interesting to note that many apoikiae were founded on the same sites as earlier Thracian settlements. Is this evidence for violent conquest, or peaceful collaboration and cohabitation?

What is certain is that, from this early Archaic phase onwards, the influence of the Greek polis gradually expanded to the opposite coast. Imported pottery (from Athens, the Cyclades, Corinth and Asia Minor) made its appearance in large quantities. Local workshops were founded, churning out local copies and high-quality variations on established styles, which eventually developed into distinct Thasian wares.

Furthermore, the Thasians quickly moved to exploit the rich mineral wealth of their new home island, as well as that of Mt. Symbolon and Mt. Pangaion. Using its access to these natural resources, Thasos grew into the foremost economic powerhouse of the north-eastern Aegean during the Late Archaic and Early Classical periods.

We are, thus, left with the question of how this prosperous new city-state defended its territory and holdings. This warrants a closer look.

Next time: Weapons, Thasians and their polis.

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