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The Lost Palace Of Nichoria - A Bronze Age Mystery // Ancient Greece History Documentary

History Time・33 minutes read

Southern Greece boasts ancient artifacts alongside olive groves, with Nioria in Peloponnese revealing Mycenaean relics like those from Homer's Odyssey. Excavations at Nioria and Pylos, combined with tablet translations, shed light on Mycenaean society and governance, with bronze trade playing a crucial role in the region.

Insights

  • The archaeological site of Nioria in Southern Greece is rich in Mycenaean history, with connections to Homer's Odyssey and Jason's Golden Fleece quest, as well as significant Linear B translations revealing insights into a lost European kingdom.
  • Nioria, despite facing challenges like erosion and looting, showcases a complex Mycenaean settlement with evidence of continued habitation through the Dark Age and a transition to the geometric period, hinting at a well-organized bureaucratic system possibly governed by a figure named Peros, with a strategic importance in the Mycenaean society.

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Recent questions

  • What historical artifacts were found in Southern Greece?

    Olive Groves and ancient relics.

  • Who discovered Linear B texts at Pylos?

    Carl Blegen.

  • What did the Linear B translation reveal?

    Administrative records from the Palace of Nestor.

  • What was the significance of Nioria's excavation?

    Uncovering Mycenaean foundations and streets.

  • What resources were crucial in the Bronze Age?

    Bronze for weapons, craft items, and gifts.

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Summary

00:00

Mycenaean Nioria: Ancient Artifacts and Olive Groves

  • Southern Greece hosts Olive Groves and ancient artifacts amidst modern debris, showcasing a rich historical past.
  • Nioria, a site in South Central Peloponnese, predates classical Greek eras, dating back to the Mycenaean age.
  • The site reveals relics from Homer's Odyssey and Jason's quest for the Golden Fleece, including citadels and advanced technology.
  • Archaeologist Carl Blegen's 1939 excavation at Pylos unearthed Linear B texts, shedding light on a lost European kingdom.
  • Radiocarbon dating revolutionized archaeology, providing precise dates for the late prehistoric Mycenaean period.
  • Linear B translation breakthrough in the 1950s by Michael Ventris revealed administrative records from the Palace of Nestor in Pylos.
  • The Coast Guard tablets from Nestor's palace detail the defenses and settlements of the kingdom, hinting at coastal defense strategies.
  • Nioria, a potential Mycenaean town, was identified through archaeological digs revealing bronze industries and ancient city structures.
  • Despite later ruins obscuring ancient levels, Nioria's excavation uncovered Mycenaean foundations and streets, hinting at grandeur.
  • The site's southern side features terrace walls and a speculated grand entranceway, reminiscent of other Mycenaean sites like Mycenae and Tiryns.

26:45

Archaeological Discoveries in Hill Area Unveiled

  • Important finds made in a Hill area believed to have been a natural Gully or Hollow, despite damage from plowing and Vine farming.
  • Uncovered materials include Corner moles for intricate jewelry, the Dame of [Music] nioria, and actual bronze Goods in unit three and four.
  • Over 200 spindle worlds collected, dating from the middle helic to the Dark Age following Myan times.
  • Discovery of a large figurine body from the early days of M Ian settlement, along with animal figurines, notably a pig fragment at nioria.
  • Finding of a small horse's head similar to those at minini, and a potard with an inscription in Linear B suggesting a literate Elite.
  • Lack of detailed settlement layout due to erosion and looting, with habitations obscuring Myan foundations described as crude and provincial.
  • Presence of intact dros and thos tombs, notably one intricately built from Limestone likely used by the ruling Dynasty.
  • Evidence of continued habitation during the Dark Age, with possible burning and collapse suggested.
  • Transition to the geometric period after the Dark Age, with a reduced Iron Age Village developing in area 4 of the site.
  • Development of nioria as part of the kingdom of [Music] pilos, with evidence of a gradual shift in archaeology and significant population growth.

53:22

Unveiling Nioria: Mycenaean Bronze Age Mystery

  • Nioria, a significant archaeological site, was visited during a trip, showcasing visible trenches and foundations from 50 years ago, with limited information available online.
  • The site, excavated in the late 60s, revealed a flourishing settlement but failed to uncover a desired archive of Linear B tablets like those found at Pilos, hinting at a well-organized bureaucratic system.
  • Despite the lack of conclusive evidence, utilizing the Pilos tablets alongside archaeological data sheds light on Nioria's governance and functionality, possibly governed by a figure named Peros.
  • Bronze, a crucial resource in the Bronze Age, was primarily used for weapons, craft items, and gifts, with tin trade linked to central authorities like the palace at Pilos, where bronze imports were allocated to various settlements.
  • The surviving tablets, recording economic data, mention sheep as the most common animal, with flax being a vital product for the palace economy, showcasing Nioria's importance in the Mycenaean society.
  • Nioria's potential administrative heart remains a mystery, with hypotheses suggesting raised areas within the Acropolis as potential locations, awaiting further exploration to unveil its secrets.
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