Qualche osservazione sulla Laconia in età micenea

Among the regions of the Peloponnese, the heartland of Mycenaean civilization, Laconia, situated in the south western part of it, has been investigated to a lesser extent than Messenia, for instance, or the Argolid. The aim of this paper is to cast a new light on some aspects related to settlement dynamics and patterns of interaction for the Late Helladic period, with a particular focus on the Late Helladic IIIB period in relation to the trajectories of internal interaction among sites of the Greek mainland. Despite the fact that the archaeological record is best observable only through survey or trial excavations rather than extensive digging activities, a few observations can still be advanced in identifying the importance of the region in Mycenaean times. For instance, settlement patterns show that particular locations were occupied as a result for potential agricultural exploitation and in light of the availability of natural resources such as copper, lead, gold and, less conclusively, silver, together with plentiful evidence for marble. Notably from a socio-political perspective is Laconia’s strategic position in connection with commerce and warfare. Pellana, situated in northern Laconia, appears to have been crucial in this respect, with also Aghios Stephanos in the Helos plain. Thus, this contribution will venture into assessing the strategic role of Laconia within Mycenaean society as a whole, by postulating the possibility that a complex web of intercommunicating sites may have been at play in the region, in a manner not unlike that established in Messenia.