PHALERON DELTA - 2013

Phaleron Delta. S. Chryssoulaki (Director, 26^th EPCA) presents (with A. Alexandropoulou and Th. Aggouras) preliminary results from rescue excavation prior to the construction of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Centre. In an area of ca. 3000 m2 (where an artificial hill and the channel will be built), a further part of the large ancient cemetery previously excavated by the Greek Archaeological Service at the beginning of the twentieth century was revealed (Fig. 1).
The cemetery was in use from the late eighth to the early fifth century BC, and by virtue of its size, density and long period of use was one of the most significant Archaic cemeteries in Attica.
A total of 1,069 burials have been excavated: 587 pit graves, 358 enchytrismoi of infants and young children, 88 funeral pyres, 11 larnakes (Fig. 2), 9 cist graves, 15 animal burials, and the burial of a young person in a wooden coffin. The coffin, made from a single piece of wood, was carved from a tree trunk, and found in excellent condition (Fig. 3). The rare preservation of such a large wooden object is due to the waterlogged condition of the area.

The graves were densely arranged (both laterally and vertically), with no stratigraphy corresponding to phases in its long period of use (Figs 4,5). The burials do not follow the same orientation and the positioning of the dead varies significantly. With few exceptions, grave goods for deceased of all ages consisted of vases. Late Geometric, Protoattic, and Black-figure styles are represented, dominated by the products of Attic workshops (Fig. 6). Among imports, Corinthian vases predominate (Fig. 7). The presence of a significant number of vessels imported from eastern Greece and Euboea reflects the developed commercial network of Attica.

Known painters, workshops, groups, imports and imitations can be identified, but unusual pictorial scenes include the black-figure representation of a fallen rider on a lebes gamikos (Fig. 8), and a prothesis scene on a black-figure plate, preserving only the head of the deceased on the funeral kline and two female mourners (Fig. 9). Both archaeological and anthropological studies are at a very early stage. It is, however, possible to provide a first estimation based on data such as the posture/position of the deceased, the preservation of the skeletons, and (where possible) information about sex and age. The absence of major social stratification, a high rate of child mortality, and skeletal evidence for pathological conditions (Figs 10,11) and arduous daily work all point to a mortuary population from the lower end of the social scale in Archaic Attica.