KERKYRA - Garitsa - 2005

Garitsa (property of E. Bouzi). G. Metallinou (Η’ ΕΠΚΑ) reports the discovery of 31 tombs from the city cemetery, mostly dating to the fourth to second century BC plus concentrations of bone which probably come from 37 earlier burials. Three levels were identified, with tombs (arranged in groups, with some singletons) in the uppermost level I and the lowest level III. The oldest grave was a pithos used for nine inhumations and an enchytrismos from the late seventh to the fifth century. Neither pithos burial not enchytrismos was practiced after the fifth century. Cists were most common during the fourth century, oriented north-south and with few or no offerings. During the second century cists were gradually overtaken by tile graves, oriented east-west and containing more offerings.

A fifth-century deposit partially investigated in the southwest part of the plot lay entirely within level I. The lower part comprised a layer rich in pottery, with sherds of black-figure lekythoi (with garlands and figured decoration), a phiale, a round-bodied lachrymaterion, a transport amphora and other vessels, plus degraded bone. This material probably comes from destroyed tombs. Above it was a layer of plain clean earth; a layer of tile above that probably comes from a road continuing to east and west.

In the southwest corner (and half out) of the plot, at the depth of level I (but out of context, beneath a modern house wall), was an inscribed limestone grave stele with a crowning pediment (1.22m tall, 0.45-0.4m wide and 0.18-0.14 deep). The back face is roughly finished, while the front is well smoothed and preserves chisel marks. The inscription reads:

 

The absence of several letters (especially curved forms) on an otherwise well-preserved surface which retains traces of finishing suggests that the inscription is unfinished (and that the stele may not have been placed on a grave). Its late fourth- or third-century date and the name ‘Makedones’ on a stele for two individuals (presumably buried together), links the inscription to the period of Macedonian control of Corcyra in the late fourth century or to a sector of the population who remained on the island thereafter.

Level II, a 0.3-0.4m thick deposit of fatty black earth, charcoal and burnt bone from a pyre, covered an area of 1-15m² in the centre/west of the plot. Bounded by tiles, its original extent was likely ca. 6-7m²: it contained a dense deposit of pottery with ca.1,400 complete or semi-complete vessels (estimated at 50-70% of the original total). While it is unclear whether one or more acts of deposition are represented, the homogeneity of the pottery favours a single episode. The upper layers of the pyre contained mainly small vessels, while the lower (and its core) also produced transport amphorae. Later fifth- and fourth-century types are represented (as saltcellars, bowls and one- and two-handled skyphoi, lamps, ladles etc.): one idiosyncratic vessel (dated to the end of the fifth century) is a black-glaze cup with mastoid projections covering the body. Other finds include a bronze arrowhead, four lead sling bullets, a bronze coin and parts of other small bronze and iron items, a glass bead or knob, fragments of burnt bone, and in situ two femurs and tibia from the lower limbs of an animal (deposited thus). While the pottery was mostly black-glaze, the finer forms are absent; the majority are small open forms suitable for the offering or consumption of liquids or solids. Closed forms are mostly transport amphorae, with a few small chytra-like vessels or ladles. The homogeneity of the deposit is such that fewer than 15 vessels forms are discernable. It is thus possible that it represents a single large-scale episode of feasting.