The making of Philip’s Macedonia: The archaeology of the Macedonian kingdom from the Persian Wars to the fall of Perdiccas III (c.510-359BC)

This thesis aims to present and examine the archaeological material from the Macedonian kingdom between c.510 and 359 in order to provide an insight into Macedonian society, culture and religion at this time. This period is often neglected by scholars since it is bookended by the wealthy burials of the late sixth century, and Philip II’s rise to power and subsequent domination of the Hellenic world. Given this broad remit, the main body of the study is divided into four chapters, each of which deals with a discrete archaeological context or class of material. Chapter two examines the evidence from settlement contexts, considering factors such as settlement location, layout, and the use of landscape, looking in particular at the exploitation of topographical features and natural resources. The architectural remains from the period, although limited, are also surveyed. This evidence is used to examine the extent to which the Macedonian kingdom can be considered ‘urbanised’ during the period under study, which is then assessed against the opinion promulgated in ancient literary sources that the region was urbanised only during the reign of Philip II. The third chapter focuses on the mortuary evidence. The burial customs and eschatological beliefs of the Macedonians are explored through an examination of the treatment of the body and the choice of burial rite, tomb type and grave furnishings. The objects placed in the grave are also studied to establish how they were affected by factors such as the age, gender and socio-economic status of the deceased, since this provides an insight into how the Macedonians perceived and presented themselves. In the fourth chapter, an analysis of the material relating to religion and cult is undertaken to ascertain the use of sanctuaries and cult spaces in the Macedonian kingdom, and glean an insight into Macedonian religious customs and beliefs. The resulting narrative is then compared to what is known of the better documented late Classical period, in order to establish whether the religious phenomena apparent from the reign of Philip II were rooted in earlier traditions. Finally, a diachronic survey of the regal issues of the Macedonian kings is used to examine the economic position of the Macedonian kingdom during their reigns. Within this, the denominations and weight standard on which such coins were minted is analysed to establish the markets for which they were intended. The types chosen for Macedonian regal coins are additionally used to elucidate the cultural and political ideologies of the kings who issued them.