eTheses Repository - University of Birmingham

there did not consider the mountains of Arkadia as barren and unproductive during the LBA
and EIA.
2.4.2 Topography and Geography
Despite the general uniformity of origin (see section 2.4.1), Arkadia is effectively spilt into
two zones, the east, and west. In the east of the region, subsidence in the ridges has created a
number of relatively large flat plains. The west by contrast, is mountainous, and although in
general lies at a much lower altitude (the descending of the ridge to a furrow), it is much more
difficult to navigate. An exception is the large plain of Megalopolis, the result of the same
subsidence as mentioned above. The River Alpheios and its tributaries, such as the River
Ladon and River Erymanthos, punctuate the mountains and although this accounts for the
complexity of terrain, the valleys are well drained as a result.
A simple distribution map suggests that settlement is much denser in the East (see map 2.1).
However, it is possible that this reflects pattern of research rather than pattern of settlement
itself. The eastern area has certainly been more thoroughly investigated than the west with a
number of the plains having undergone some survey (Eastern Arkadia, Howell 1970; Pheneos
and Lousoi, Tausend 1999; Asea Valley, Forsen & Forsen 2003; Tegea, Ødegard 2005).
Again, the exception is the large plain of Megalopolis, which has also been surveyed (Lloyd
1985; Pikoulas 1988). Travelling around the region is enough to explain why this may be so.
The navigable landscape in the east and that around Megalopolis, is more conducive to
archaeological survey. It would take a radically innovative strategy to undertake such field
surveys in the west to the same extent as has been undertaken in the east. Thus, the
archaeological knowledge we have of the western region is in the main acquired through
chance finds and individual site excavations. For example, the bronzes from possible graves
at Andritsaina (Payne 1940, p.71 n. 3; Jacobsthal 1956, p.4, pp.7-9 no.16; Morgan 1999b,
39