PROVENANCE DETERMINATION BY NEUTRON ACTIVATION ANALYSIS OF SELECTIVE POTTERY IN THE SPERCHEIOS VALLEY (FTHIOTIDA, CENTRAL GREECE)

In this short note, a provenance determination of 15 selected pottery sherds from the prehistoric settlement (Doka’s plot) at Frantzi is presented using for the Neutron Activation Analysis method the Research Reactor at Delft, Netherlands. The large databank of elemental concentration patterns at Bonn was helpful to locate the origin of 2/3 of the vessels and to underline the extensive trade network with the palatial centers of the central Greece and Peloponnese during the Mycenaean period. For some of these commercial activities the Phocis trade route was used, which connects the valley of the Spercheios with the Krisean Gulf in Phocis. It is also confirmed that the local ceramic production of the settlements in the Spercheios valley was considerable, as confirmed by the exported products.