ALIKIANOS - 2008
General Information
Record ID
1850
Activity Date
2008
Chronologies
Keywords
Church - Tomb - Numismatics - Dress and personal ornament - Metal - Bone - Stone - Glass - Religious building - Cemetery
Type of Operation
Institution
Localisation / Geographical Information
Toponym
Alikianos
Alikianos
Linked Record
2008
Report
Alikianos. Ch. Bourbou (TDPEAE-Chania) reports on the excavation in 2007-2008 of graves associated with the three-aisled Church of Zoodochos Pigi (Figs 1-2). Of the 77 tombs investigated, 21 were inside, mainly in the narthex, with the others lying close to the walls all around the exterior. Fifty were cist graves (Fig. 3), roughly rectangular and wider at the head, built of stones or a mix of stone and tiles, with stone covering slabs and earthen floors. Tomb 1 was larger and probably served as an ossuary, to judge from the mixed skeletal remains. Eleven were pit tombs: simple holes with rounded corners, but still at times covered with slabs. Eight were tile tombs: simple covering slabs or with tiles on their sides as a Λ. Most were single burials, but 23 were multiple burials in which earlier interments were displaced (Fig. 4). Thirty nine were burials of sub-adults. The deceased was placed directly onto the earth floor (some may have lain on wooden biers to judge from the presence of nails, e.g. 12 in tomb 54), supine, with the upper limbs arranged in various ways. Stones might be used to support the head (Fig. 5) or the jaw. Grave goods were rare, with just 22 items (of jewellery [Figs 6) registered, half accompanying adults. Tomb 54 contained four glass (Fig. 11) and three bronze bracelets, a necklace (Fig. 12) and a pair of silver earrings (Fig. 13); the only ceramic vessel was placed over the face (Fig. 14). Preliminary dating indicates the late 11th to 12th century AD, though the coins found allow some burials to be Venetian or even Ottoman.
Author
Don EVELY
Bibliographic reference(s)
AEK 1 (2010), 754-66
Legend :
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Date of creation
2011-02-17 00:00:00
Last modification
2023-12-11 08:56:35
Picture(s)
Fig. 1/ Ground plan of excavation (narthex).
Fig. 2/ Ground plan of the excavation (exterior).
Fig. 3/ Cist grave (Tomb 27).
Fig. 4/ In situ skeleton and interments (Tomb 23).
Fig. 5/ Stones among the skull of the dead (Tomb 26a).
Fig. 6/ Bronze and gold-coated earring.
Fig. 7/ Bronze earring.
Fig. 8/ Bronze and gold-coated cross.
Fig. 9/ Bone gaming piece.
Fig. 10/ Bone button.
Fig. 11/ Glass bracelet.
Fig. 12/ Necklaces of glass and bone.
Fig. 13/ A pair of basket-shaped earrings.
Fig. 14/ Small cup (A1) placed over the face of the dead (Tomb 11).