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387 It is generally assumed that the decline of the Mycenaean states was triggered by a first series of destructions at the end of LH IIIBI. At Mycenae several palace-related buildings outside of the citadel were destroyed and abandoned. At Tiryns the structures on the knoll below the palace (the Lower Citadel) were destroyed, and the palace of Thebes was also damaged. Earthquakes have been blamed for the destructions at Mycenae and Tiryns. At other sites causes cannot be defined with certainty.
388 In LHIIB2 the circuit wall of Mycenae was extended considerably and the Lion Gate was built. AT Tiryns the Upper Citadel received the strong fortifications still visible today, and the Lower Citadel was enclosed with a Cyclopean wall. The extensive fortification walls of Midea and the enceinte around the Athenian acropolis were also built at this time.
389 It is difficult to assess, in this connection, the first appearance in the Aegean of metal objects that had first been developed during the thirteenth century BCE in Italy, the northwestern Balkans, and central Europe.
There is also evidence for economic problems. Too specialized and too centralizing, the Mycenaean palace economies apparently did not react adequately to disruptive factors.
overexploitation of arable lands and soils
390 all palace institutions functioned normally until the very end
tablets found at Thebes that were burned while still wet
Dorian theory now rejected on archaeological grounds
393 With regard to the absolute chronology of LHIIIC, there are almost no clues. Because the exchange of goods with the eastern Mediterranean and Egypt had more or less come to an end after the fall of the palaces, LHIIIC contexts have so far not produced imported objects that could connect the relative chronology of the postpalatial Aegean with the historically established chronologies of the Near Eastern civilizations. The only Aegean-Near Eastern synchronism that can be used for the absolute dating of LH IIIC rests upon the fall of the kingdom of Ugarit, where Mycenaean LH IIIB2 pottery was found in the destruction levels. Ugarit still existed during the reign of the pharaoh Siptah (1194-1188BCE) and possibly also of Queen Tewosret (1188-1186 BCE). According to the report of Ramses III (1184-1153), Ugarit no longer existed when he defeated the Sea Peoples in the eight year of his reign (1177 BCE). It is therefore generally agreed that the end of LHIIIB and the beginning of LH IIIC should be dated to ca. 1190 BCE or shortly thereafter. New radiocarbon dates seem to corroborate synchronism of the end of LH IIIC with the end of the Twentieth Dynasty of Egypt, around 1070 BCE. Otherwise, radiocarbon dates are few and provide only a general dating of LH IIIC in the 12th century BCE. At present, the postpalatial Mycenaean period can thus be assigned generally to the span between ca. 1190 and 1070 BCE. Between these two limits, absolute dates are arbitrarily assigned to the subphases of LH IIIC and to Submycenaean, based on rough estimates of the duration of settlement phases or of generations (20, 25, or 30 years).
395 "handmade burnished ware" or "Barbarian ware" first appeared in LM IIIB contexts in Crete, and the final phase of the Argive palaces, in LHIIIC early, handmade & burnished pottery found at Tiryns, Mycenae, Lefkandi, and other sites. even in 12th century BCE Cyprus
396 is likely that people from various parts of the Aegean banded together and set off for Cyprus. unclear whether they were part of, or identical with the ominous "sea people" and furthermore whether they were responsible for the widespread destruction in Cyprus
their move not prompted by the fall of the palaces, since it took place too late, end of LH IIIC Early
397 palace areas reoccupied, smaller buildings restored, but palaces never rebuilt
398 no new tholos tombs built, some reused
cremations a little more common, though still a minority
399 pottery-making, bronze work, and shipbuilding in LH IIIC, otherwise no evidence of fine arts and crafts. some failed attempts
fresco painting may have enjoyed a limited survival, but fresco painters may have mainly transferred their skills to other media
400 pottery painting got better
depictions of warriors and male-oriented activities
weapons got better
new types of weapons from Adriatic regions
388 In LHIIB2 the circuit wall of Mycenae was extended considerably and the Lion Gate was built. AT Tiryns the Upper Citadel received the strong fortifications still visible today, and the Lower Citadel was enclosed with a Cyclopean wall. The extensive fortification walls of Midea and the enceinte around the Athenian acropolis were also built at this time.
389 It is difficult to assess, in this connection, the first appearance in the Aegean of metal objects that had first been developed during the thirteenth century BCE in Italy, the northwestern Balkans, and central Europe.
There is also evidence for economic problems. Too specialized and too centralizing, the Mycenaean palace economies apparently did not react adequately to disruptive factors.
overexploitation of arable lands and soils
390 all palace institutions functioned normally until the very end
tablets found at Thebes that were burned while still wet
Dorian theory now rejected on archaeological grounds
393 With regard to the absolute chronology of LHIIIC, there are almost no clues. Because the exchange of goods with the eastern Mediterranean and Egypt had more or less come to an end after the fall of the palaces, LHIIIC contexts have so far not produced imported objects that could connect the relative chronology of the postpalatial Aegean with the historically established chronologies of the Near Eastern civilizations. The only Aegean-Near Eastern synchronism that can be used for the absolute dating of LH IIIC rests upon the fall of the kingdom of Ugarit, where Mycenaean LH IIIB2 pottery was found in the destruction levels. Ugarit still existed during the reign of the pharaoh Siptah (1194-1188BCE) and possibly also of Queen Tewosret (1188-1186 BCE). According to the report of Ramses III (1184-1153), Ugarit no longer existed when he defeated the Sea Peoples in the eight year of his reign (1177 BCE). It is therefore generally agreed that the end of LHIIIB and the beginning of LH IIIC should be dated to ca. 1190 BCE or shortly thereafter. New radiocarbon dates seem to corroborate synchronism of the end of LH IIIC with the end of the Twentieth Dynasty of Egypt, around 1070 BCE. Otherwise, radiocarbon dates are few and provide only a general dating of LH IIIC in the 12th century BCE. At present, the postpalatial Mycenaean period can thus be assigned generally to the span between ca. 1190 and 1070 BCE. Between these two limits, absolute dates are arbitrarily assigned to the subphases of LH IIIC and to Submycenaean, based on rough estimates of the duration of settlement phases or of generations (20, 25, or 30 years).
395 "handmade burnished ware" or "Barbarian ware" first appeared in LM IIIB contexts in Crete, and the final phase of the Argive palaces, in LHIIIC early, handmade & burnished pottery found at Tiryns, Mycenae, Lefkandi, and other sites. even in 12th century BCE Cyprus
396 is likely that people from various parts of the Aegean banded together and set off for Cyprus. unclear whether they were part of, or identical with the ominous "sea people" and furthermore whether they were responsible for the widespread destruction in Cyprus
their move not prompted by the fall of the palaces, since it took place too late, end of LH IIIC Early
397 palace areas reoccupied, smaller buildings restored, but palaces never rebuilt
398 no new tholos tombs built, some reused
cremations a little more common, though still a minority
399 pottery-making, bronze work, and shipbuilding in LH IIIC, otherwise no evidence of fine arts and crafts. some failed attempts
fresco painting may have enjoyed a limited survival, but fresco painters may have mainly transferred their skills to other media
400 pottery painting got better
depictions of warriors and male-oriented activities
weapons got better
new types of weapons from Adriatic regions
