Sesklo - Revision history

Lazarus at 14:06, December 12, 2005

2005-12-12T14:06:48Z

Lazarus at 14:03, December 12, 2005

2005-12-12T14:03:34Z

Lazarus at 14:01, December 12, 2005

2005-12-12T14:01:17Z

Lazarus at 13:56, December 12, 2005

2005-12-12T13:56:21Z

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'''Sesklo''', rarely '''Sesclo''' (Greek: Σέσκλο) was a village nearby the city of [[Volos]], in [[Thessaly]] (central [[Greece]]), in the prefecture of [[Magnesia]].
The neolithic settlement was discovered in the end of 19th century.

==Geography and information==
*Location:
**Longitude: 22.8275 (22°49'46") E
**Latitude: 39.300833 (39°21'5") N
*[[List of postal codes in Greece|Postal code]]: 385 00
*Elevation: 206 m
*Dialing code: +11+30-[[Greek dialing codes beginning with 242|24210]] (0030-24210)

==Information==

This settlement gives name to the first [[Neolithic]] culture of Europe, extending by all [[Thessalia]] and parts of Greek [[Macedonia]]. The first settlements, that predate the 6th millennium BCE, are known as '''proto-Sesklo''' (main group) and '''pre-Sesklo''' (secondary groups with differentiated characteristics) and they show an advanced agriculture and a very early use of pottery that rivals in age with those of the Near East. Some affinities with the culture of Hacilar, seem to point to an Asian origin of these first European peasants.

The peoples of Sesklo built their villages at hillsides, near fertile valleys, where they grew wheat and barley, keeping also herds of mainly sheep and goats, though they also had cows, pigs and dogs. Their houses were small, with one or two rooms, built of wood or mudbrick in the early period. Later the construction technique becomes more homogeneous and all homes are built of adobe with [[stone]] foundations. In the 6th millennium are found the first houses with two levels and there's also a clear intentional urbanism.

The lower levels of proto-Sesklo lack of [[pottery]], but they soon developed a very fine glazed one (cups and bowls), that they decorate with geometric paintings in red or brown colours. In the Sesklo period properly, new types of ware are incorporated. At the end of the period the decoration evolves to ''flame'' motifs.

One significant characteristic of this culture is the abundance of statuettes of women, often pregnant, what some consider to be a religious trait. Whichever the case, these abundant sculptures are present in all the Balcanic and most of the Danubian Neolithic complex form many millennia, though they can't be considered exclusive of this area.

The culture of Seklo is crucial in the expansion of Neolithic into Europe. All other Balcanic cultures (basically those of Karanovo I-II and Starcevo-Köros) originate here, and will be these which will stimulate the birth of the important Danubian Neolithic current. Also, it is thought that the differentiated settlements of pre-Sesklo can be, at least partly, at the origin of the Mediterranean Neolithic (Cardium Pottery|Cardium pottery). So it can be said that, with very few exceptions, all European Neolithic originates here: in the Thessalia of Sesklo.

This culture lasted more than one full millennium, until the arrival, c. 5000 BCE, of a second wave of peoples carrying a different culture (Dimini) brought end to it, apparently through violent conquest.

==Other==

Sesklo has a small school, a church, a small post office, and a small square (''[[plateia]]'').

==Historical population==

{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"11
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
! Year !! Population !! Change
|-
| [[1981]] || 781 || -
|-
| [[1991]] || 857 || 76/9.73%
|}

==External links==
*[http://www.culture.gr/2/21/211/21113a/e211ma02.html Sesklo Neolithic settlement]
*http://hellas.teipir.gr/prefectures greek/Magnisias/SeskloArxaiol.htm (in Greek)
*[http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?tb=1&city=Sesklo&country=GR Mapquest - Sesklo], street map not yet available
*Coordinates: {{coor dms|39|21|5|N|22|49|46|40|region:GR|}}

[[Category:Ancient Greece]][[Category:Magnesia]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:06, December 12, 2005
Line 12:		Line 12:
	*Dialing code: +11+30-[[Greek dialing codes beginning with 242\|24210]] (0030-24210)		*Dialing code: +11+30-[[Greek dialing codes beginning with 242\|24210]] (0030-24210)

		+	[[Image:Sesklo-extended.jpg\|thumb\|250px\|left\|An extended settlement of the Middle Neolithic period]]
	==Information==		==Information==

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 [[Image:Sesklo.jpg|frame|Photo of the discovery]]
-'''Sesklo''', rarely '''Sesclo''' (Greek: &#931;&#941;&#963;&#954;&#955;&#959;) was a village nearby the city of [[Volos]], in [[Thessaly]] (central [[Greece]]), in the prefecture of [[Magnesia]].
+'''Sesklo''', rarely '''Sesclo''' (Greek: &#931;&#941;&#963;&#954;&#955;&#959;) was a village nearby the city of [[Volos]], in [[Thessaly]] (central [[Greece]]), in the prefecture of [[Magnesia]].The neolithic settlement was discovered in the end of 19th century.
 ==Geography and information==

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 '''Sesklo''', rarely '''Sesclo''' (Greek: &#931;&#941;&#963;&#954;&#955;&#959;) was a village nearby the city of [[Volos]], in [[Thessaly]] (central [[Greece]]), in the prefecture of [[Magnesia]].
-The neolithic settlement was discovered in the end of 19th century.
+The discovery of the neolithic settlement was announced [[December 12]], [[1970]].
 ==Geography and information==