Anavyssos

The motivation for this paper was on the one hand our recent confrontation with the MH pottery of Vranas-Marathon, under the new study program on the Vranas tumuli, and on the other hand the blur picture we had of MH Attica in general, an area in the middle of other regions with a much better defined or more deeply explored identity. From our very first visit at the Museum of Marathon we realized that very little was notably familiar to two researchers specialized in the Argolid, where pottery is characterized by a strong variety of painted and burnished wares. On the contrary, in Vranas-Marathon we mainly came across burnished pottery of rather poor quality and unfamiliar variations of known shapes. As a result, a series of questions arose:
• What are the distinctive characteristics of the MH pottery production and consumption in Attica?
• In terms of production, can we discern any distinct technological traits? If yes, what kind of role did pre-existing local traditions play and what was the contribution of the nearby pottery production centres?
• In terms of consumption, were the consumers’ needs totally satisfied by local production and what kind of imported pottery did they prefer?
• Finally, should we talk about a uniform MH cultural identity emerging in Attica or are there more than one regional traditions?