The Linear B Tablets of the Northern Entrance Passage at Knossos

Sommaire

Preface 1
1. Introduction 3
1. Methodology: a pluridisciplinary approach 3
2. The discovery of the Linear B tablets at Knossos 5
3. The palace at Knossos during the advanced Late Bronze Age 10
3.1. 'Mycenaean Crete' – Some chronological considerations 10
3.2.General considerations about the palace 11
3.3. The Neopalatial period (MM IIIA-LM IB) 12
3.4. The Final Palatial period (LM II-IIIA2) 13
3.5. The Postpalatial period (LM IIIA2-IIIB) 16
4. The date of the Linear B tablets and the problem of the destruc tion(s) of the palace 17
4.1.Two traditions: LM IIIA1-A2 vs. LM IIIB 17
4.2.Popham, the scale tips in favour of a LM IIIA2 date 18
4.3.Hallager, back to LM IIIB 19
4.4.Driessen, how many destructions? 20
4.5.An on-going debate 20
2. Archaeological approach 22
1. Introduction 22
2. Original documentation (excavation sequences and sketches) 24
2.1.The campaign of 1900 25
2.2.The campaign of 1901 40
3. The discovery of the Linear B tablets: a summary of the 1900-19 01 excavations 41
3.1.The Insula 41
3.2.The Passageway 44
4. Architectural and stratigraphic description 47
4.1.The Room of the Lotus Lamp [RLL] 47
4.2. The Room of the Saffron Gatherer [RSG] 52
4.3.The Room of the Stirrup Jars [RSJ] 53
4.4.The Room of the Knobbed Pithos [RKP] 55
4.5.The Room of the Spiral Cornice [RSC] and its northern compartment 56
4.6.The Passageway 59
5. Material from the excavation 65
5.1.Clay objects: vases and sealings 65
5.2.Stone objects 68
5.3.Fresco fragments and plaster reliefs 70
5.4.Contribution of the archaeological material to the dating process 74
6. Reconstruction of the architectural history of the NEP 75
6.1.Before the Neopalatial period 75
6.2. MM IIIA-MM IIIB (Neopalatial I) [ca. 1750/1700-1700/1675 BCE] 75
6.3. LM IA-IB (Neopalatial II [ca. 1700/1675-1470/1460 BCE]) 76
6.4. LM II-IIIA2 (Final Palatial [ca. 1470/1460-1320/1300 BCE]) 78
6.5. LM III A2-IIIB (Postpalatial [ca. 1320/1300-1200/1190 BCE]) 80
6.6. Presence of an upper floor 82
7. Taphonomy of the deposit 85
7.1.Conjectural depositional scenario in the Passageway 85
7.2.Conjectural depositional scenario in the Insula 89
8. Results of the archaeological study 91
3. Pinacological and epigraphical approaches 93
1. Identification of the tablets and unity of the deposit 93
1.1. The Passageway (I2-I3-I3bis) 94
1.2.The Insula (I1-I4) 97
2. Pinacological analysis 99
2.1.Manufacture 99
2.2.Shape and size 100
2.3.Palmprints 105
2.4.Cutting 106
2.5.Clay and colour 108
2.6.State of preservation 109
2.6.1. Evaluation of conservation according to size 115
2.6.2. Evaluation of conservation according to number of signs preserved 116
3. Epigraphical approach 117
3.1.Preparation of the tablets 117
3.2.Recording process 119
3.3.After writing 124
4. Scribal analysis 126
1. Introduction 126
2. Scribal hands of the NEP 127
2.1.Overview 127
2.1.1. The Passageway 129
2.1.2. The Insula 142
2.2.Discussion 143
2.2.1. Scribal cross-references 144
2.2.2. Scribal specialisation 148
3. Palaeographical analysis 149
3.1.The creation of Linear B 150
3.1.1. Why? 150
3.1.2. How? 150
3.1.3. When? 153
3.1.4. Where? 153
3.2.Palaeographic traditions as chronological landmarks? 154
4. The language of the NEP scribes 158
4.1.Linear B communication strategies 159
4.1.1. Use of syllabograms and logograms 159
4.1.2. Syntactic strategies 161
4.1.3. Ancient communication vs. modern understanding 162
4.2.The language behind the writing 162
4.3.The linguistic identity of the NEP 163
4.3.1. Scribal errors 164
4.3.2. Spelling variations due to the writing system and scribal tradition 165
4.3.3. Language variations and features 165
5. Textual analysis 168
1. Daily matters: general information 168
2. An example: Military topics 171
2.1. Offensive weapons 172
2.2.Protective gear 172
2.3.Chariots 173
2.4.Links between the deposits? 175
3. Toponyms 177
4. Prosopographical study 182
4.1. Prosopography: definition and contribution 182
4.2. Using the method within the NEP 184
4.2.1. Single anthroponyms 185
4.2.2. Anthroponyms with titles and functions 189
4.2.3. Individuals referred to by titles and functions only 191
6. General interpretation 197
1. Unity of the deposit 197
2. Chronology of the NEP deposit 198
3. Nature of the deposit 201
7. Conclusion 205
8. Bibliography 207