KEPHALA, Petras - 2009
Informations Générales
Numéro de la notice
1793
Année de l'opération
2009
Chronologie
Mots-clés
Nature de l'opération
Institution(s)
Localisation
Toponyme
Petras
Petras
Notices et opérations liées
Description
Kephala, Petras. M. Tsipopoulou (Director, National Archive of Monuments) reports on excavations conducted between 2004-2006 and in 2009. A Late Neolithic settlement (Fig. 1) lies on the eastern slope (as well as LMIII habitation, linked perhaps to larnax burials on another hill); on the northern side is an extensive EMI settlement (as well as Late Neolithic structures and traces of metallurgy) not yet fully understood. The MMIB-II cemetery includes five built house tombs, as those at e.g. Mochlos, of several constructional phases and with multiple rooms in each. An EMII presence is indicated by Vasiliki ware (Fig. 2) and ties to the Cyclades are indicated by four marble figurine fragments (Fig. 3). On the western side of Kephala an undisturbed rockshelter was investigated in 2006 (Figs 4-5); this is now ca. 3-4m square, but was once larger. Parts of a large MMI larnax were found, along with bone. In 2009, systematic investigations cleared a 1m deep secondary deposit (or series of deposits), probably from one or more of the house tombs, with only a minimum of covering soil. At least 95 skulls were retrieved. Finds comprise five stone (Fig. 6) and 100 EMI (Fig. 7) to EMIII/MMI clay vases (Figs 8-10), including Cycladic examples (Figs 11-12) as at Ag. Photia, 10 silver and seven bronze items (including daggers), stone beads and obsidian, four gold bands and items of jewellery, two stone and three bone seals (Fig .13) (the last with close ties to central Crete, and perhaps specifically Malia). Later awareness of the shelter is seen by the presence of a LMI jug (Fig. 14) with religious connotations and a conical cup, found close to the surface. Use of the shelter apparently ceased when the Palace was founded.
S.Triantaphyllou (Thessaloniki) comments on the ca. 7,000 human remains. The bones were transported when skeletonized, with limited evidence for articulated units at the west side in particular. All age categories and both sexes are present. Traces of burning scattered in the deposit suggest fumigation events in the original location. Small animal bones may relate to funerary offerings. The population was prone to the usual ailments of the period: arthritis, healed fractures and dental problems, along with evidence of nonspecific infections. One female may have experienced artificial cranial deformation (giving her a long-shaped skull) and underwent trephination shortly before death.
S.Triantaphyllou (Thessaloniki) comments on the ca. 7,000 human remains. The bones were transported when skeletonized, with limited evidence for articulated units at the west side in particular. All age categories and both sexes are present. Traces of burning scattered in the deposit suggest fumigation events in the original location. Small animal bones may relate to funerary offerings. The population was prone to the usual ailments of the period: arthritis, healed fractures and dental problems, along with evidence of nonspecific infections. One female may have experienced artificial cranial deformation (giving her a long-shaped skull) and underwent trephination shortly before death.
Auteur de la notice
Don EVELY
Références bibliographiques
AEK 1 (2010), 121-33; Kentro 12 (2009), 19-23
Légende graphique :
localisation de la fouille/de l'opération
localisation du toponyme
polygone du toponyme Chronique
Fonctionnalités de la carte :
sélectionner un autre fond de plan
se rapprocher ou s'éloigner de la zone
afficher la carte en plein écran
Date de création
2011-02-07 00:00:00
Dernière modification
2023-10-06 10:53:35
Figure(s)
Fig. 1/ Kephala hill from south.
Fig. 2/ Two Vasiliki ware vessels during excavation.
Fig. 3/ Marble Cycladic imported figurine fragment.
Fig. 4/ The entrance of the rock-shelter from SW.
Fig. 5/ EMI-II vessels during excavation.
Fig. 6/ EMI pyxis.
Fig. 7/ EMIII stone spouted phiale.
Fig. 8/ Eggcup - Vasiliki ware.
Fig. 9/ EMIII jug(L-O-D).
Fig. 10/ EMIII bridge-spouted jug.
Fig. 11/ Early Cycladic miniature vessel.
Fig. 12/ Early Cycladic pear-shaped vessel.
Fig. 13/ EMII-III bone seal.
Fig. 14/ Neopalatial ritual jug.