Strategies for success: Early Helladic pottery production in Corinth, Greece

This paper presents the analysis of Early Helladic II (EH II) pottery from Keramidaki (Ancient Corinth) and the nearby settlement of Korakou. Based on macroscopic, petrographic and SEM–EDS data, the work builds on pioneering chemical research by Michael Attas who demonstrated the limited circulation of finewares in the region and posited the existence of a workshop in the area of the Corinthian Plain. The current research adds substantial detail to Attas’ insights by characterising the varied range of pottery fabrics encompassed within his chemical groups, differences in raw material choice and manipulation, and the presence of both oxidation and reduction firing regimes to achieve different surface finishes. It is suggested that the area hosted a number of potters during this period, some making a broad range of pottery types to satisfy daily consumption needs of the local community, whilst others produced a more restricted repertoire.