Tradition and Innovation in the Mycenaean Palatial Polities

The Mycenaean palatial polities, which flourished approximately between 1400 and 1200 BC, are the first states on the European mainland. For that reason they play an important role for the study of the development of social systems. In these conference proceedings concepts of traditions and innovations are viewed from historical, art-historical, administrative, palaeographical and technological perspectives. The papers discuss aspects that are essential for understanding Mycenaean society in the palatial period, but which have not been a central focus of research. Some contributors present first results of recent excavations that have the potential to re-evaluate our current view of the rise, transformation and interaction of palatial centres. Others focus on administrative practices of the palaces that have produced the oldest deciphered written texts from Europe, the Linear B documents. Within these contributions various interpretative models are addressed and their capacities for contributing to the analysis of innovative and traditional elements are explored. Furthermore, interdisciplinary and contextual approaches play a significant role. In focusing upon the origin and development of Mycenaean palatial polities, the administrative practices employed by their bureaucracies and the material culture that is left behind, both the archaeological record and the written evidence are taken into consideration to provide a deeper insight into the ideas of tradition and innovation during the Mycenaean palatial period.