Zakynthos
Zakynthos is situated off the western coast of Greece in the Ionian Gulf. Due to its location next to a major tectonic fault line, the island has been subject to frequent earthquakes. The archaeological record on the island is very much destroyed and the pottery of Zakynthos is characterized by a very high degree of fragmentation. Since 2005, the Netherlands Institute in Athens, in cooperation with the regional Greek archaeological service, has been conducting an archaeological survey on the island. The aim of the project is to relate the material remains on the island to the dynamic landscape. Within the project different researches are integrated, such as intensive archaeological survey, geological research, analysis of aerial photographs and limited excavation. Already it has become clear that Zakynthos had a rich material culture in various periods, which is now dispersed in fragments in the landscape. The high degree of weathering and fragmentation of the pottery of Zakynthos and the lack of stratigraphic excavations nearby, present us with great difficulties while interpretating the survey results. The integrated approach to pottery studies adopted by the New Perspectives on Ancient Pottery project will greatly help us to understand the archaeology on Zakynthos.
