Construction and Political Dynamics
From The Observatory
Date
February 5, 2026
Location
Kelsey Museum of Archaeology, Ann Arbor
Area
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The Relationship between Mycenae and Tiryns in the Late Bronze Age
Exactly how Mycenae and Tiryns interacted during the Late Bronze Age has intrigued scholars and the public alike ever since Heinrich Schliemann excavated both citadels in the late nineteenth century. Because preserved Linear B records from the Argolid are sparse, the region’s administrative and hierarchical organization remains uncertain, and debates about political structures—both within the Argolid and across the Mycenaean world—persist. The close proximity of these two major palatial centers is especially challenging to explain. Were they independent rivals, part of a localized Argolid kingdom dominated by one site, or integrated elements of a single Mycenaean polity spanning the Aegean?Agenda
"This talk approaches these questions from a stoneworking and architectural perspective, focusing on evidence from the late fourteenth and thirteenth centuries BCE. I argue that distinct technological and stoneworking parallels between the sites point to episodes of meaningful collaboration. Moreover, I propose that this craft—and likely political—relationship evolved over time. Although Mycenae is often assumed to have asserted regional hegemony by the early fourteenth century, unequivocal evidence for its direct involvement in construction at Tiryns appears only by the mid-thirteenth century. This development coincides with major architectural changes at Mycenae that signal sociopolitical transformations at the site and potentially across the region. My analysis offers a fresh perspective on the shifting dynamics of the Argolid at the height of Mycenaean power."
FAST (Field Archaeology Series on Thursday) Lectures are free and open to the public. This event will take place in Room 125 of the Kelsey Museum’s Newberry Hall. Light refreshments and food will be provided at 5:30 PM, with the lecture starting at 6:00 PM.Key Speaker: Nicholas G. Blackwell
Participants
University of Michigan Department of Archaeology
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Our faculty, staff, and students are conducting fieldwork and collections-based research across the globe, spanning periods from half a million years ago to the present. The University of Michigan houses outstanding archaeological collections and offers a range of undergraduate and graduate degrees and programs in archaeology and related disciplines. This site provides an overview of our research, educational programs, collections, and resources that are of interest to students, scholars, teachers, and the general public.
