A Forgotten Island: Kalymnos in the Neolithic and EB Ages.

In the early 1920's, three prehistoric caves were excavated by A. Maiuri on the island of Kalymnos: at Vathy, above the harbour of Rhina, and at A. Varvara and Cheiromandres near the modern town of Pothia. Unfortunately, the excavation is virtually undocumented. The excavation notebook has long disappeared and the excavator's preliminary report is disappointing in terms of both stratigraphy and related finds (Cl. Rhodos I, 104-117). Therefore, the materials have to be dated by parallels with comparative finds from other sites.

The Vathy Cave yielded a substantial material, witnessing a long-lasting, though not unbroken occupation of the site which may be summarized as follows:

1. A substantial LN occupation
2. EBA 2 (?)
3. EBA 3
4. MBA (Represented by a jug imported from the Cyclades and some imitations of MM shapes in local red burnished Ware).
5. LBA (Well represented by wide range of pottery extending from LM IA to LH IIIC middle).

The material from A.Varvara and Cheiromandres is more difficult to assess because of its very fragmentary condition and the fact that only a small portion of the finds have been identified with certainty. At both sites, however, pottery belonging to LAN 3-4 may be safely recognized. In addition to pottery, all three caves have yielded a rich array of stone tools and plenty of Melian obsidian. A group of fine obsidian tools, including thin blades and an arrow-head, comes from Cheiromandres.