PROSYMNA EXCAVATION RECORDS
COLLECTION OVERVIEW
Collection Number: GR ASCSA ExcRec 025
Name of Creator(s): Carl W. Blegen (1887-1971)
Title: Prosymna Excavation Records
Date(s): 1925, 1927-1928
Language(s): English
Summary: Excavations at the site of Prosymna [Argive Heraeum] were conducted by Carl W. Blegen (1925-28). The team excavated mostly tombs on the slopes N and W of the temple, although some trenches were also dug on the temple terrace (see notebook by R.S. Darbishire 1927). The Prosymna Excavation Records contain field notebooks, some of which have been microfilmed, notes, original drawings and watercolors of finds by Piet de Jong, photographs, glass negatives (ASCSA AH series #AH 0001-0032 and 0601-0956; and P series # P 0088 -0120) and correspondence, mostly related to the publication of the excavation by Cambridge University Press. The majority of the photographs is published, although there is a small number which have not been included in the final publication. The collection includes an anthropological report by Carl M. Fürst concerning the skeletons found in the tombs.
Quantity: 0.53 linear meters
Immediate Source of Acquisition: Carl W. Blegen, 1971
Information about Access: Please contact the ASCSA Archivist for information.
Cite As: American School of Classical Studies at Athens, Archives, Prosymna Excavation Records (Αμερικανική Σχολή Κλασικών Σπουδών στην Αθήνα, Αρχείο Ανασκαφών Πρόσυμνας).
Finding Aid's Permanent URL:
Notes (1): For additional information about the Prosymna excavations, see also the collections in the Archives and Special Collections of the Department of Classics at the University of Cincinnati, https://classics.uc.edu/images/archives/prosymnafinding-aidweb.pdf
CONTAINER LIST
BOX 1
Folder 1
Field notebooks (total: 10), most have notes and sketches in the back pocket:
1. C. W. Blegen I (1925) - (digitized)
2. C. W. Blegen II (1927) - (digitized) [Note: pp. 116-121 are blank and have not been digitized.]
3. C. W. Blegen III (1928): in the back pocket there is a card from W. Vollgraff (April 27, 1928) - (digitized)
4. C. A. Robinson (1925) & R.S. Darbishire (1927) - (digitized) [Note: at the beginning of the notebook there are blank pages with no numbering, which have not been digitized.]
5. D. Burr (1925) & C. B. Spitzer (1928) - (digitized) [Note: pp. 143-164 and 174-180 are blank and have not been digitized]
6. O. Broneer & D. H. Cox (1927) - (digitized) [Note: page numbers go from number 53 to number 100, page number 141 has been assigned twice and pp. 174-193 are blank and have not been digitized.]
7. M. Rawson (1928) - (digitized) [Note: pp. 3-8 are blank and have not been digitized, there is no page number 46 and page number 62 has been assigned twice. From p. 153 to the end there are blank pages not numbered, which have not been digitized.]
8. D. H. Cox (1928) - (digitized) [Note: pp. 151-161 are blank and have not been digitized, p. 165 is loose and page numbering goes from number 167 to number 195.]
9. W. T. Semple & A. T. Hack (1928) - (digitized) [Note: at the beginning of the notebook there are blank pages with no numbering, which have not been digitized; the same happens after p. 40 to the end.]
10. A. T. Hack (1928) - (digitized) [Note: pp. 2-7 are blank and have not been digitized; there are two pages with number 81.]
Note: Researchers may consult the information in the digitized folders but for permission to publish, or any other information concerning the Prosymna Excavation Records, please contact the Department of Archives of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens.
Folder 2
Inventories of objects, distribution of pottery and inventory of photos of objects from the tombs.
Folder 3
Report on the anthropological material by Carl M. Fürst concerning the skeletons found in the tombs (photos included).
Folder 4
Correspondence on the publication of the excavation by Cambridge University Press, 1934-1935.
Folder 5
Microfilm reel (microfilmed notebooks).
BOX 2
Folder 1
Almost a complete set of photographs from the publication of the excavation, see C. W. Blegen, Prosymna, the Helladic Settlement Preceding the Argive Heraeum, Cambridge University Press 1937.
Figs. 1-50
Folder 2
Figs. 51-100
Folder 3
Figs. 101-150
Folder 4
Figs. 151-200
Folder 5
Figs. 201-250
Folder 6
Figs. 251-300
BOX 3
Folder 1
Figs. 301-350
Folder 2
Figs. 351-400
Folder 3
Figs. 401-450
Folder 4
Figs. 451-500
Folder 5
Figs. 501-550
Folder 6
Figs. 551-600 [fig. 600 in Box 4]
Folder 7
Figs. 601-730 [first photo is fig. 609]
Folder 8
- Photos from figures not included in Prosymna, mostly post-Mycenaean published in Carl W. Blegen, “Prosymna: Remains of Post-Mycenaean Date,” AJA 43 (1939), pp. 410-444.
- Also, a note from V.E.G. Kenna to Blegen regarding sealstones not included in the publication.
- Contact prints of glass slides in Cincinnati not published in Prosymna (film shot in 1985) and list of glass slides in Cincinnati (Hageorgitika and Prosymna) with letter by Tucker Blackburn to Carol Zerner (Dec. 11, 1986).
BOX 4
Drawings and watercolors of finds (by Piet de Jong). Including copies of drawings of graves, plans of Early and Late Helladic houses on the Acropolis, drawings of tops of stirrup jars by Frangoulidis (Φραγκουλίδης), few notes, negative of watercolor of AH 415 by Piet de Jong, colour plates for Prosymna. Note that one of the two watercolors with the griffin is kept on top of the box.
NOTE: The glass negatives of the illustrations in Blegen’s Prosymna and AJA 1939 article are kept in the Negatives Room, and are accessible through the ASCSA Archaeological Photographic Collection, # AH 0001-0031, AH 0601-0956, P 0088-0120.