Papers by Alexander Vacek
The Encyclopedia of Ancient History, Dec 29, 2015
Ras al-Bassit is an Iron Age harbor town in northern Syria, located ca. 50 km north of Latakia. G... more Ras al-Bassit is an Iron Age harbor town in northern Syria, located ca. 50 km north of Latakia. Greek Protogeometric imports found at the site indicate that Bassit had connections to Greece already during the tenth century bce. By the late seventh century bce a small group of Greeks were even resident at the port. Keywords: ancient Near East history; archaeology; Mediterranean
Archaeopress Publishing Ltd eBooks, Aug 31, 2017
The Journal of Hellenic Studies
We offer a reassessment of two letters from the state correspondence of Tiglath-pileser III of As... more We offer a reassessment of two letters from the state correspondence of Tiglath-pileser III of Assyria (r. 744–727 BC) with the earliest references to a town called Yauna and a people called the Yauneans, as encountered on the eastern Mediterranean coast by the newly established imperial administration. Past scholarship connected these Assyrian terms with the ethnonym ‘Ionians’ and/or the toponym ‘Ionia’. The study narrows down the location of Yauna, drawing also on a review of the coastal sites that have produced Greek ceramic imports: although identification remains elusive, Yauna was certainly situated in the territory of the kingdom of Hamath, and later the Assyrian province of Ṣimirra. Discussion of the historical and cultural background of Yauna’s foundation highlights its significance for the ‘transfer debate’ and the phenomenon of the ‘Greeks overseas’. We argue that the Assyrians first encountered the Yauneans in this locality and that, to them, they were originally simply ...
The Encyclopedia of Ancient History, 2016
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Aug 26, 2020
Cyprus: An island culture
The present thesis provides and examination of the Greek imports from Al Mina dating from the end... more The present thesis provides and examination of the Greek imports from Al Mina dating from the end of the 9th to the end of the 7th centuries BC. Al Mina, located on the Orontes river in the Hatay province of Turkey, was excavated by L. Woolley in 1936 and 1937. In particular the large quantities of Greek imports recovered from the sites triggered a debate about the site’s function and it’s foundation date. In order to overcome past deficiencies the present thesis provides a detailed record of the Greek pottery recovered from the site. The fragments are analysed stylistically and dated in order to establish a local chronology. Further, a detailed statistical study of the whole assemblage, which comprises about 4800 pieces, reveals evidence for local consumption patterns and further sheds light on the ports external contacts during the 8th and 7th centuries BC. The study also entails a contextual analysis of specific Near Eastern sites in order to set Al Mina in its regional context. Three questions are of major concern in this respect: is it possible to identify the users of Greek pottery in the East in terms of their socio-economic background? Further, is Greek pottery better understood as a commodity or as a gift? Finally, What role does Greek tableware play within the trade with other commodities? The study illustrates that pottery primarily circulated within the lower social classes. It also highlighted a diverse pattern in which high quality products are circulating besides “mass ware”. This can be understood as a diversification process that was initiated in order to reach a wider range of consumers.
Dieser Beitrag schreibt einleitend die Chronik der Miletgrabung um funf Jahre fort. Anschliesend ... more Dieser Beitrag schreibt einleitend die Chronik der Miletgrabung um funf Jahre fort. Anschliesend werden neue, bislang noch nicht publizierte Befunde vorgestellt. Eine Ausgrabung im Vorfeld der Theaterhohle hat ein bedeutendes, wohl hellenistisches Fundament und weitere byzantinische Gebaude nachgewiesen (A. Vacek). Die Bauaufnahme der byzantinischen Stadtmauer aus der Zeit der Araberkriege hat eine bislang unbekannte Pforte identifiziert (S. Giese). Am Humeitepe ist eine kleine turkische Moschee, eine sogenannte Mescit, entdeckt worden (Ph. Niewohner). Ein Survey auf dem Humeitepe hat die Siedlungsgeschichte dieses Stadtteils anhand von Streufunden beschrieben (Ch. Berns – S Huy). Neue palynologische Befunde verbessern das Verstandnis der byzantinischen Siedlungsgeschichte im Um- und Hinterland (A. Izdebski). Auserdem werden umfangreiche denkmalpflegerische Arbeiten berichtet. Sie galten neuen Besucherwegen, Schautafeln und Fuhrern, einer Neuprasentation des Bischofspalasts sowie de...
The Encyclopedia of Ancient History, 2000
Der Alte Orient und die Entstehung der athenischen Demokratie, 2020
The preview may look weird but the PDF is OK! *** We propose identification of Al-Mina with Aḫtâ ... more The preview may look weird but the PDF is OK! *** We propose identification of Al-Mina with Aḫtâ and position this, firstly, in the context of the historical and strategic assessment of the Orontes estuary and the Amuq plain, secondly in the context of a re-evaluation of the archaeological evidence of Al-Mina and, thirdly, in the context of a discussion of Mediterranean trade during the time of the Assyrian Empire. To this end, we discuss the sites of Al-Mina and Sabuniye and then widen our focus for a historical survey of the political and strategic importance of the Orontes estuary before turning to Greeks and Greek import pottery in the Assyrian Empire; we conclude with an analysis of Al-Mina’s role in the Mediterranean trade during the time of the Assyrian Empire.
Archaeometric analyses of Euboean and Euboean related pottery: New results and their interpretations, 2014
Book Reviews by Alexander Vacek
Miletus by Alexander Vacek
Archäologischer Anzeiger , 2020
This paper first chronicles five more years of work at Miletus and then presents the following ne... more This paper first chronicles five more years of work at Miletus and then presents the following new, as yet unpublished findings: An excavation in front of the theatre cave has unearthed the foundations of a significant building that probably dates from the Hellenistic period, as well as several Byzantine ruins (A. Vacek). Investigation of the Byzantine city walls from the Invasion period has led to the discovery of a minor gate, probably a sally port (S. Giese). On Humeitepe, a small Turkish mosque or so-called mescit has been discovered (Ph. Niewöhner). A survey on Humeitepe confirms the ancient settlement history of this urban area through the analysis of small finds (Ch. Berns – S. Huy). New palynological findings improve our understanding of the Byzantine settlement history in the vicinity and the hinterland of the city (A. Izdebski). In addition, the paper also reports extensive site management and conservation work. The former includes new visitor paths, display panels, and guide books. The latter has resulted in a new presentation of the Bishop's Palace as well as structural consolidation of the Baths of Faustina, where they were at risk of collapse (Ph. Niewöhner).
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Papers by Alexander Vacek
Book Reviews by Alexander Vacek
Miletus by Alexander Vacek