| Summary: | The thesis is an archaeological study of the island of Lesbos, with emphasis upon the central settlement of the Greek polis (the asty) and the surrounding territory of each city (the chora). Chapter 1 offers an introductory overview of the physical constitution of the island. Chapter 2 considers the development through the Dark Age and Archaic periods of the settlements which became the central asty of the poleis in Lesbos. Chapter 3 focuses on the chora of the poleis in early Lesbos, examining a series of towers and enclosures of Lesbian polygonal masonry. Detailed treatment is given to the style of masonry employed in order to give indications about the likely date of the structures. The social angle is also examined, exploring the possible group identity and social definition in the chora, and the other roles played out by the structures. Possible implications to be drawn from the lack of similar structures in the chora of the polis of Mytilene are considered. Both discussions in Chapters 2 and 3 are contextualised with other regional/island surveys to explore points of similarity or difference between Lesbos and the rest of Greece. -- The conclusions of the two studies are then summarised, drawn together, and supplemented by six appendices. The first four appendices tabulate the archaeological data from the island, examine epigraphical data for agricultural estates in the Roman Imperial period, discuss the pine forest in eastern Lesbos, and finally the distribution of epigraphical finds in Lesbos. A penultimate study considers the literary evidence of the war for Sigeion between the Mytileneans and the Athenians. In the last appendix, there is a re-examination of the work and conclusions of Page concerning the creation of a framework for Lesbian history in the late seventh and early sixth centuries from the fragments of Alkaios' poetry.
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