Middle and Late Bronze Age Metal Tools from the Aegean, Eastern ...

unavailable outside the Mycenaean palatial centers (Fig. 3.9b), thereby resembling the
restrictive distributions of the implements in other regions (e.g. Cyprus and Syria-
Palestine in Figs. 3.9d, f). The limited distribution of the metallic agricultural tools may
reflect a palatial role in agrarian activity. The Linear B archives (e.g. the Pylos E-series)
do attest to extensive land holdings, presumably related to agriculture and animal
husbandry. 188
Since the decipherment of Linear B, the palaces and their records have
traditionally been understood as reflecting a centralized operation that redistributed staple
189
goods. Thus agriculture at and within the vicinity of Knossos, Pylos and Mycenae was
thought to be controlled by the palace, especially with regard to the production of grain,
wool, and flax. 190 Subsequently, the Mycenaean economy has been modeled as either
staple or wealth finance systems, although Nakassis has recently challenged this
dichotomy. 191 Palatial interests in agricultural production were dictated by needs of the
elites and “palace personnel.” 192 Local communities, according to Killen and Halstead,
were the primary agents of grain distribution rather than palatial centers. 193 Galaty and
Parkinson reach a similar conclusion: “the palaces did not collect agricultural surpluses
from all members of society and then reallocate them…the Mycenaean elite appear to
have taken only as much as was necessary to run the palaces.” 194
This assertion is
amended by Nakassis’ interpretation of the Pylian staple goods in the Linear B records.
These texts confirm the collection of staple grains and livestock by the palace; such
188
Ventris and Chadwick 1973, 237, 266 (Er01); Palmer 1998-1999; Halstead 1992, 112.
189
Finley 1957, 134-136. For an overview of this issue and its problems, see Halstead 1988.
190
Palmer 2001, 55.
191
Nakassis 2010. For wealth finance models, see: Halstead 1992; Galaty and Parkinson 2007.
192
Palmer 2001, 53; Halstead 2001.
193
Killen 1998; Halstead 2001, 50.
194
Galaty and Parkinson 2007, 5, 13.
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