The Late Bronze Age to Early Iron Age Chronological Sequence from the Site of the Asklupis in the Northeast Koan Region

This contribution discusses in full for the first time the Late Bronze Age (LBA) and Early Iron Age (EIA) materials from the Asklupis, a prehistoric and protohistoric village located on the hill slopes of Mount Dikaios in the northeast Koan region. Despite the small sample size and other biases, which are critically addressed in the text, the evidence presented in this article sheds new light on the occupational sequence of the Asklupis and provides insights about the function of the site between the 17th and the 10th centuries B.C. Recent fieldwork in northeast Kos has demonstrated the existence of a complex network of sites organized around the major settlements of the "Serraglio" and Ayios Panteleimon. As shown by the occurrence of LBA IA, Late Helladic (LH) IIIA2 to LH IIIB, LH IIIC Middle/Late, and Late Protogeometric materials, the Asklupis was one of the second-tier rural sites where human activities intensified during the phases when the "Serraglio" and Ayios Panteleimon flourished. Thanks to the diverse natural resources offered by the surrounding area, the Asklupis provided a convenient seasonal base for different types of endeavors centered around these two major settlements. Moreover, in times of perceived threats, its protected location offered a safe shelter for the larger communities that normally resided at the "Serraglio" and Ayios Panteleimon.