Neolithic Thessaly and Koutroulou Magoula

Koutroulou Magoula is a tell settlement in the Thessalian plain, specifically at its southern edge, near the foothills of the Domokos heights. The site was occupied during the Early and Middle Neolithic (7th and 6th millennium BC). The tell mound grew larger and higher as the settlement was rebuilt over its own remains. Across its various phases, the site was structured with buildings, courtyards, open spaces, workshops, enclosures, ditches, and other modifications both on the summit and the slopes of the mound.

As in all Thessalian settlements, ceramic remains are present in every part of Koutroulou Magoula, reflecting the widespread use of pottery for diverse purposes. The primary function was the management of food, both for everyday practical needs and for special, ritual occasions. At the same time, the vessels, through their technology, appearance, aesthetics, and decoration, conveyed broader symbolic meanings, both personal and collective. Both the vessels and their contents were closely intertwined at the center of productive economy and the ideology of production, acquisition, and display.

The ceramic repertoire at Koutroulou included cups and bowls, necked vessels, jars, basins, cooking pots, pouring vessels, and offering trays. Some vessels were painted with motifs on a surface prepared with an appropriate slip: the most common trends of the period were red designs on a white background or white on red. However, most vessels were not painted but monochrome.

Depending on the techniques used in preparing the slip, its application, and burnishing, a variety of colors and shades appeared after firing. Most commonly, vessels were reddish, ranging from orange to brown, though gray and black examples also occurred. While these characteristics align with a common Thessalian aesthetic, micro-variations in hue or texture suggest a local character unique to Koutroulou, as is the case in all settlements. These variations eventually reflected expressions of personal preferences, perhaps allowing potters to distinguish themselves within the community.

Research program by the British School at Athens and the Ministry of Culture

Forthcoming, S. Katsarou, M. Georgiadis, A. Anagnostopoulos, V. Tsamis, N. Kyparissi-Apostolika, Y. Hamilakis, Use of the perimeter ditch at Koutroulou Magoula, Greece: an assessment through ceramic wear analysis.

2026, S. Katsarou, M. Georgiadis, N. Kyparissi-Apostolika, Y. Hamilakis, A. Politopoulos, Pottery from the perimeter Neolithic ditch at Koutroulou Magoula: Finds and inferences from erosion patterns. In: Archaeological Work of Thessaly and Central Greece 7 (2022). [in Greek]

2025, Y. Hamilakis, N. Kyparissi-Apostolika, S. Katsarou, M. Georgiadis, A. Politopoulos, V. Tsamis, T. Loughlin, Perimeter ditches and the social construction of community and space at Early-Middle Neolithic Koutroulou Magoula, Thessaly, Greece, ene2025. 2nd International Conference on the Emergence of the Neolithic in Europe, Zadar, 22-25 May 2025. SESSION 3: People, Settlement and Territory: Constructing Communities from Local to Regional Scale (Organizers: E. Kalogiropoulou, D. Stojanovski).

2022, S. Katsarou, M. Georgiadis, N. Kyparissi-Apostolika, Y. Hamilakis, A. Politopoulos, Pottery from the ditch of the Middle Neolithic tell of Koutroulou Magoula, Phthiotis, 7th Archaeological Work of Thessaly and Central Greece, 2018-2021, Volos, 3-5 June 2022 (Organizers: University of Thessaly & Ministry of Culture). [in Greek]

2017, Y. Hamilakis, N. Kyparissi-Apostolika, T. Loughlin, T. Carter, S. Katsarou, A. Kaznezi, A. Pentedeka, Koutroulou Magoula in Phthiotida, Central Greece: A Middle Neolithic tell site in context. In: A. Sarris, E. Kalogiropoulou, T. Kalayci, L. Karimali (eds.), Communities, Landscapes and Interaction in Neolithic Greece. Proceedings of the International Conference (Rethymnon, 29-30 May 2015), pp. 81-96. Institute for Mediterranean Studies / Foundation for Research and Technology. Ann Arbor, Michigan. International Monographs in Prehistory, Archaeological Series 20.

2015, A. Pentedeka, N. Kyparissi-Apostolika, Y. Hamilakis, Α. Kaznesi, S. Katsarou, Koutroulou magoula. Pilot petrographic analysis of pottery and figurines, Archaeological Work of Thessaly and Central Greece 5 (publ. 2020), pp. 841-849. [in Greek]

2015, Y. Hamilakis, N. Kyparissi-Apostolika, T. Loughlin, T. Carter, S. Katsarou, A. Kaznezi, A. Pentedeka, Koutroulou Magoula in Phthiotida, Central Greece: A Middle Neolithic tell site in context, Communities, Landscapes and Interaction in Neolithic Greece. International Conference, Rethymnon, 29-30 May 2015 (Organizer: Institute for Mediterranean Studies, Foundation for Research and Technology).

2015 A. Pentedeka, N. Kyparissi-Apostolika, Y. Hamilakis, Α. Kaznesi, S. Katsarou, Koutroulou magoula. Pilot petrographic analysis of pottery and figurines, 5th Archaeological Meeting of Thessaly and Central Greece, Volos, University of Thessaly, 26 February-3 March 2015 (Organizer: University of Thessaly). [in Greek]

2009, S. Katsarou, Colorful images of the Greek Neolithic, Theoretical Archaeology Group-USA 2009, Stanford, CA, 1-3 May 2009: The Color of Things: Debating the Role and Future of Color in Archaeology (Organizer: A. Nagel, University of Michigan). Oral text uploaded at www.academia.edu.