Conduits of Exchange: Craft Networks on Crete During the Middle Minoan Period

During the Middle Minoan (MM) IB – IIB period (ca. 1900-1700 BC) on Crete, potters learned new ways to manufacture their pots, as they were actively engaged in various networks of craft exchange and cross-craft interactions. This period is marked with a surge of new ceramic styles and craft technology as well as an interregional migration of prehistoric people. Scholars consider this era a great technological advancement in ceramics. Ceramic innovations might have been facilitated by the array of craft networks located across the Cretan landscape, which can be seen through the evidence gathered about Minoan regional pottery traditions, from “provincial” and “palatial” spheres. Additionally, recent studies show that Crete was not controlled by central palatial authorities during the MM period, but by several autonomous regional polities. Thus, the terms “provincial” and “palatial” are outdated. This begs the question of who was in control of the production and distribution of craft objects? Was pottery an independent craft tradition or controlled by regional powers of authority? Did craftspeople have agency and how were they perceived within their society? Since most of the decorated pottery finds from this period were associated with vessels for serving liquids, the social and political meaning of conspicuous drinking rituals were likely important catalysts in craft production and the distribution of fine ware pottery. Therefore, the investigation of MM social trends, regional pottery traditions, and the agency of Minoan potters can help to inform studies in art history through offering new insights on the prehistory of craft networks