THE AYIA TRIADHA CAVE, SOUTHERN EUBOEA: FINDS AND IMPLICATIONS OF THE EARLIEST HUMAN HABITATION IN THE AREA (A PRELIMINARY REPORT)

Abstract

The Ayia Triadha cave excavation project aims to explore early maritime connections in the Aegean during the Late Neolithic I and II and the Early Bronze Age. The cave lies in a strategic position close to the crossroads that connect insular regions and the mainland. We also aim to explore the manifestations of the so‐called Saliagos culture of the Cyclades and the Aegean. This culture is connected to the White‐on‐Dark pottery horizon (late sixth to early fifth millennium B.C.) found in the cave. The Final Neolithic/LNIIa material is also present in the cave in large quantities. It is closely connected to the Attica‐Kephala horizon (late fifth/fourth millennium B.C.) known from the Cyclades and the southern part of mainland Greece. Of great importance is the identification of an Early Bronze Age context, located inside a small chamber, off the main entrance corridor. In this paper we present our preliminary results from the 2007 field season and some aspects of the 2008 campaign together with research strategies we plan to apply in the future.