The Mycenaean Age: Dating and Discovery
The Mycenaean civilisation dominated Greece from 1600-1150 BC, named after their most famous city, Mycenae. This Bronze Age culture developed through three key periods: the early shaft grave burials , the palatial peak , and the final destruction phase .
Archaeologists date these periods using pottery fragments and carbon dating of wooden objects. The civilisation consisted of small, independent city-states built on hilltops for defence - think of them as ancient fortified villages rather than massive cities.
The most famous excavation disaster involved Heinrich Schliemann in the late 19th century. He discovered what he thought was Troy and found spectacular treasure, which his wife smuggled out and modelled for publicity photos. Unfortunately, his treasure was actually 1000 years older than the real Troy, and his dig methods destroyed loads of crucial evidence!
Key Point: The Mycenaeans lived during the Bronze Age because bronze was their primary metal - iron hadn't become widespread yet.
