Cremation and the end of Mycenaean culture

Abstract

T w o wave s o f catastrophe s affected Mycenaea n states in Mainlan d Greec e in the secon d half o f the 13th century В С (LH III B1 / 2 and L H III B2 ). Th e most sever e o f the m wa s the secon d on e whic h resulted in man y destructions o f all the mai n centre s and o f many settlements throughout the Peloponnese , Central Greec e and Thessaly , openin g a period o f ca. 150-18 0 year s during whic h time Mycenaea n culture gradually disintegrated1 . Th e nature o f that cataclysm has bee n widel y disputed and amon g possibl e cause s o f the disaster the followin g one s hav e bee n pointed out: an invasion o f people(s) from North-Western Greec e (perhaps the Dorians) or from Southern Europe 2 ; a catastrophic wav e o f earthquakes 3 ; a rapid chang e o f climat e and subsequent long period o f draught 4 ; economi c problem s