Itanos - 2021
Informations Générales
Numéro de la notice
18152
Année de l'opération
2021
Chronologie
Mots-clés
Nature de l'opération
Institution(s)
Localisation
Toponyme
Itanos
Itanos
Notices et opérations liées
2021
Description
Itanos. Athena Tsingarida and Didier Viviers (Université libre de Bruxelles / EBSA) report on the first season of a new excavation campaign (2021–2025) in the ancient Necropolis of Itanos in Eastern Crete. This new program expands the area excavated during previous fieldwork programmes in order to better understand the funerary landscape of the ancient city, starting an exploration from the limits of the urban centre to the “primitive core” of the cemetery.
The 2021 campaign (8th July – 20th August) focused on three key areas (fig. 1):
1) The south sector of the archaic complex (Zone Ε) (fig. 2)
Excavation took place in an area to the S of areas excavated between 2011 and 2015. These areas seek to define the southern limits of the complex and to ascertain, if possible, a more precise chronology of its occupation. It is also hoped to further locate and understand the relation of the building with the Late-Classical and Hellenistic necropolis, set in the same sector.
Two sectors (13 – 14) were excavated. They clearly pointed to an occupation going back, at least, to the 7th c. BC, and to an important phase of re-organisation following the destruction of the Archaic complex dated to the first half of the 5th century BC.
On the west side (sector 14), a large slab in schist and part of a destroyed wall may have belonged to a phase prior to the construction of the Archaic complex. Under a levelling fill that covered these structures, there were found an intact Cretan arybalos, dated to the 7th century BC, directly on the rock (fig. 3) and, around the slab (to the north and west), several round stones. Two of these sonnets combined with a layer of ashes and were placed on the rock, cut out specifically for this purpose (fig. 4)
On the east side (sector 13), under a layer of general abandonment, the Hellenistic retaining terrace wall, was found, badly damaged. Underneath, a circulation level had been built on a levelling fill which covered a thick layer of destruction. The latter comprised fragments of mud bricks and ceramic material, mostly dated to the Archaic period. These resulted from the destruction of the southern façade of the Archaic complex, the south-eastern interior corner of which was brought to light.
2) Excavations of the enclosure walls in the intermediary terrace (Zone Γ) (fig. 5)
N of the Archaic funerary complex, zone Γ defines the area of an intermediary terrace on the slope of the hill. This area bears on its surface evidence of destroyed graves and the top of few walls that follow an orientation of about fifteen degrees different from that of the walls in the south, in zone Ε. Three sectors were excavated in 2021 (Γ1, Γ2 and Γ3) within a total surface of 110 m2. Two periboloi, made of walls of geometric type, were brought to light, one next to the other. Partly destroyed in several places, especially in the SW corner of the S peribolos (peribolos A), these walls were restored in a later phase, above a layer of abandonment that had been dug for a few late graves.
In this layer, six graves were identified, five in the South peribolos (A), and one located south of the North peribolos (B). They followed the South-West/North-East axes of the earlier geometric walls and were tiered from East to West.
The first grave (SP 9044), in the SW angle of peribolos A, was not looted. It contained three inhumations: two skeletons in the bottom of the tomb embraced each other, while a third one, above them, might correspond to a later stage of use of the tomb. This final use may have taken place at a moment when this was no more a built funerary monument. There was then only a rounded cippe erected at the side of the head of the deceased to mark the place of the grave, nowadays visible through its negative trace on the ground. This latest sepulchre must be dated to the Roman period (1st-2nd c. AD) according to the funerary assemblage (fig. 6) found underneath the latest cover slab of a construction type different from all the others.
N of SP 9044 another grave (SP 9069) was excavated along the W wall of peribolos A. This tomb was looted, probably in the Late Byzantine period when the necropolis became a quarry. The funerary monument (SP 9069) was made of a series of orthostats that supported large slabs serving as the upper level of a monument which was destroyed. Remains of two inhumations were found in a bad state of preservation. Remains of the funerary offerings were found in the destruction/looting level of the grave and have been dated to the second half of the 1st or the 2nd centuries AD.
Grave SP 9069 was built inside the filling of an earlier grave (SP 9100) of which only the initial cut and a part of the filling made of fragments of schists were identified (but not excavated).
The fourth tomb (SP 9099) from this first row of inhumations was located N in peribolos B. It was looted in the same manner as grave SP 9085. Only a few traces of human remains were preserved. There was no funerary assemblage in place nor in a destruction position. Only the general typology of the tomb enables one to link it with graves SP 9085 and SP 9100, thus creating a coherent whole of three tombs set on each side of the ancient periboloi.
Another grave, also looted, was set between sectors Γ1 and Γ3. It belongs to a second row of inhumations. The looters completely emptied the grave, after taking off two out of the five cover slabs. Above the three slabs remaining in their initial position was a layer made from the earth and schist’s fragments dug out from the tombs, to support a funerary monument that is now totally missing.
The excavation eventually brought to light a trace of a sixth grave (SP 9110) that belongs to a third row of graves, located in the Eastern limit of sector Γ3.
3) Topography of the Necropolis
In addition to the excavation, LIDAR and aerial photography were conducted to generated a scan of the hill. The scope of the scanning campaign is to eventually produce a 3D model of the necropolis of Itanos and obtain a fine cartography (isometric curves every 20 cm) allowing the team to locate on a map all archaeological remains (those excavated and those seen on the surface).
The 2021 campaign (8th July – 20th August) focused on three key areas (fig. 1):
1) The south sector of the archaic complex (Zone Ε) (fig. 2)
Excavation took place in an area to the S of areas excavated between 2011 and 2015. These areas seek to define the southern limits of the complex and to ascertain, if possible, a more precise chronology of its occupation. It is also hoped to further locate and understand the relation of the building with the Late-Classical and Hellenistic necropolis, set in the same sector.
Two sectors (13 – 14) were excavated. They clearly pointed to an occupation going back, at least, to the 7th c. BC, and to an important phase of re-organisation following the destruction of the Archaic complex dated to the first half of the 5th century BC.
On the west side (sector 14), a large slab in schist and part of a destroyed wall may have belonged to a phase prior to the construction of the Archaic complex. Under a levelling fill that covered these structures, there were found an intact Cretan arybalos, dated to the 7th century BC, directly on the rock (fig. 3) and, around the slab (to the north and west), several round stones. Two of these sonnets combined with a layer of ashes and were placed on the rock, cut out specifically for this purpose (fig. 4)
On the east side (sector 13), under a layer of general abandonment, the Hellenistic retaining terrace wall, was found, badly damaged. Underneath, a circulation level had been built on a levelling fill which covered a thick layer of destruction. The latter comprised fragments of mud bricks and ceramic material, mostly dated to the Archaic period. These resulted from the destruction of the southern façade of the Archaic complex, the south-eastern interior corner of which was brought to light.
2) Excavations of the enclosure walls in the intermediary terrace (Zone Γ) (fig. 5)
N of the Archaic funerary complex, zone Γ defines the area of an intermediary terrace on the slope of the hill. This area bears on its surface evidence of destroyed graves and the top of few walls that follow an orientation of about fifteen degrees different from that of the walls in the south, in zone Ε. Three sectors were excavated in 2021 (Γ1, Γ2 and Γ3) within a total surface of 110 m2. Two periboloi, made of walls of geometric type, were brought to light, one next to the other. Partly destroyed in several places, especially in the SW corner of the S peribolos (peribolos A), these walls were restored in a later phase, above a layer of abandonment that had been dug for a few late graves.
In this layer, six graves were identified, five in the South peribolos (A), and one located south of the North peribolos (B). They followed the South-West/North-East axes of the earlier geometric walls and were tiered from East to West.
The first grave (SP 9044), in the SW angle of peribolos A, was not looted. It contained three inhumations: two skeletons in the bottom of the tomb embraced each other, while a third one, above them, might correspond to a later stage of use of the tomb. This final use may have taken place at a moment when this was no more a built funerary monument. There was then only a rounded cippe erected at the side of the head of the deceased to mark the place of the grave, nowadays visible through its negative trace on the ground. This latest sepulchre must be dated to the Roman period (1st-2nd c. AD) according to the funerary assemblage (fig. 6) found underneath the latest cover slab of a construction type different from all the others.
N of SP 9044 another grave (SP 9069) was excavated along the W wall of peribolos A. This tomb was looted, probably in the Late Byzantine period when the necropolis became a quarry. The funerary monument (SP 9069) was made of a series of orthostats that supported large slabs serving as the upper level of a monument which was destroyed. Remains of two inhumations were found in a bad state of preservation. Remains of the funerary offerings were found in the destruction/looting level of the grave and have been dated to the second half of the 1st or the 2nd centuries AD.
Grave SP 9069 was built inside the filling of an earlier grave (SP 9100) of which only the initial cut and a part of the filling made of fragments of schists were identified (but not excavated).
The fourth tomb (SP 9099) from this first row of inhumations was located N in peribolos B. It was looted in the same manner as grave SP 9085. Only a few traces of human remains were preserved. There was no funerary assemblage in place nor in a destruction position. Only the general typology of the tomb enables one to link it with graves SP 9085 and SP 9100, thus creating a coherent whole of three tombs set on each side of the ancient periboloi.
Another grave, also looted, was set between sectors Γ1 and Γ3. It belongs to a second row of inhumations. The looters completely emptied the grave, after taking off two out of the five cover slabs. Above the three slabs remaining in their initial position was a layer made from the earth and schist’s fragments dug out from the tombs, to support a funerary monument that is now totally missing.
The excavation eventually brought to light a trace of a sixth grave (SP 9110) that belongs to a third row of graves, located in the Eastern limit of sector Γ3.
3) Topography of the Necropolis
In addition to the excavation, LIDAR and aerial photography were conducted to generated a scan of the hill. The scope of the scanning campaign is to eventually produce a 3D model of the necropolis of Itanos and obtain a fine cartography (isometric curves every 20 cm) allowing the team to locate on a map all archaeological remains (those excavated and those seen on the surface).
Auteur de la notice
Michael Loy
Références bibliographiques
Unpublished field report, EBSA
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
2022-04-20 10:51:45
Dernière modification
2022-04-20 10:52:33
Figure(s)
Fig. 1/ Itanos, necropolis — Zones E et Γ
Fig. 2/ Itanos, necropolis — Zone E, Sectors 13 and 14 towards the East
Fig. 3/ Itanos, necropolis — Zone E, Sector 14 : Cretan aryballos, 7th c. BC (inv. ITA21.61515.01) deposited on the rock
Fig. 4/ Zone E, Sector 14 : rounded stones deposited on the rock
Fig. 5/ Zone Γ
Fig. 6/ Zone Γ : funerary assemblage of grave SP 9044