Spatial Analysis of Domestic and Mortuary Use

Slope, while even less excavations have produced domestic remains at the northwest slope (Figure 7.3). Ffouses and domestic deposits have also turned up in a few plots west of Pouros, the northeast slope, as well as the

Figure 7.3 Survey of REU’s with houses, domestic deposits and tombs.

Northeast, northwest, and the southeast foothills. Their small number seems to be congruent with the fewer excavations undertaken there by the Archaeological Service, although it is likely that these extremities were not as densely inhabited as other areas further uphill.

Most REU's with Middle Helladic tombs are located at the east slope, a pattern which corresponds to the attested frequency of domestic use there (Figure 7.3). The area south/southeast of Pouros and Ag. Andreas follow; comparatively plots with tombs have been less frequent. Plots with evidence of mortuary use have been frequent at the northwest slope, where those with domestic remains have been rare. The frequency of REU's with tombs at the southeast slope, the east ridge and east foothill is lower, and in the case of the east ridge, it is again in contrast with the occurrence of plofs wifh domesfic remains. The same applies to the area east of Pouros, where tombs have been reported rather infrequently, unlike houses and domestic deposits. In short, both plots with domestic remains and tombs have more frequently turned up southeast/ south of Pouros, along the east slope and at Ag. Andreas. It might not be irrelevant that, as I have argued above, these areas may have been more densely occupied. Tombs have, of course, been reported in the not so well-sampled areas too, and at Kastellia. Interestingly, 'pre-Mycenaean' sherds have been found in a couple of chamber tombs at the Late Helladic cemetery of Kolonaki-Ayia Anna, c. 200-600 m south of Ag. Andreas (Keramopoullos 1917: 146,196).

With the exception of the east foothill and Kastellia, tombs have come to light in the vicinity of houses. Does this suggest that domestic space was undifferentiated from burial space in the south and central part of the Kadmeia? To be able to approach this question, it is important to attain a better understanding of fhe relationship between tombs and houses where these features seem to coexist. In this respect, it is beneficial to see which parts of Middle Helladic Kadmeia have yielded domestic burials. It is important to stress that the distinction between 'intramural' and 'extramural' tombs does not apply, since no trace of a Middle Helladic circuit has ever come to light (see below). Thus, when I speak of 'domestic burials', I mean the tombs associated with houses regardless of their location.