Ophiolites Associated with Pottery Production in Bronze Age Crete

Abstract

This study investigates diversity among ophiolite-bearing sediments that were exploited for pottery production in Bronze Age Crete (c.3000–1200 bc). The focus is on loose and consolidated formations of Upper Tertiary to Quaternary ages that contain some detrital products of Mesozoic ophiolitic source rocks. A literature review, geological fieldwork, sediment sampling and petrographic analysis are combined to identify the origin, the geographical distribution and the stratigraphic position of these ophiolitic sediments, and to assess regional diversity in their mineralogy and texture. The results provide insights into current archaeological problems regarding the provenance and production of ophiolite-bearing pottery in Bronze Age Crete.