Skepasto Kalavryton, Xirokambos - 2008
General Information
Record ID
8490
Activity Date
2008
Chronology
Iron Age - Early Dark Age - Protogeometric / Late Dark Age - Geometric
Antiquity - Archaïc - Classical - Hellenistic
Key-words
Type of Operation
Institution
Localisation
Toponym
Skepasto
Skepasto
Linked Record
2008
Report
Skepasto Kalavryton, Xirokambos (property of the Union of Agricultural Cooperatives of Kalavryta). Georgia Alexopoulou (ΣΤ’ΕΠΚΑ) reports on the discovery of a defensive wall and 32 pithoi burials, identified during rescue excavations. Many more finds were collected prior to the excavation, as a result of construction work being carried out at the property. The finds were dated from the Late Helladic to Hellenistic periods. The defensive wall (67.0x2.20 m.) which had recently been damaged, was oriented on a N/NW-S/SE axis and lined with limestone blocks (0.45x0.25 m.), while the interior was filled with pebbles (Fig. 1). Excavations also revealed 32 burial pithoi, another five burial pots and five tile covered graves (Figs. 2, 3). The pithoi were large and included the remains of adults as well as children. The pots which varied in their degree of preservation were usually placed sideways and occasionally rested on a layer of small pebbles, while their stomia were sealed with stones or tile fragments.
Grave goods in pithoi IV, XIX and XXXI were significant. In pithos IV was found a bronze ring which was similar to others found in the Molossoi citadel of Vitsa in Epirus, dated to the first quarter of the 8th c. BC. Pithos XIX contained an eight-shaped fibula dated to the 9th c. BC, similar to an object found in the temple of Lousoi and in a Molossian burial from Vitsa. Pithos XXXI produced lance points dated to the 8th c. BC, which were again similar to examples from Vitsa.
The five tile covered graves were aligned on either an E-W or N-S axis, belonging to adults and children. The degree of preservation of the graves and bodies varied, as did the presence of grave goods. In a few cases, the bodies were laid on concave tiles.
In the south of the property was a large building consisting of three rooms in which there were large numbers of loom-weights.
Grave goods in pithoi IV, XIX and XXXI were significant. In pithos IV was found a bronze ring which was similar to others found in the Molossoi citadel of Vitsa in Epirus, dated to the first quarter of the 8th c. BC. Pithos XIX contained an eight-shaped fibula dated to the 9th c. BC, similar to an object found in the temple of Lousoi and in a Molossian burial from Vitsa. Pithos XXXI produced lance points dated to the 8th c. BC, which were again similar to examples from Vitsa.
The five tile covered graves were aligned on either an E-W or N-S axis, belonging to adults and children. The degree of preservation of the graves and bodies varied, as did the presence of grave goods. In a few cases, the bodies were laid on concave tiles.
In the south of the property was a large building consisting of three rooms in which there were large numbers of loom-weights.
Author
Michael Loy
Bibliographic reference(s)
ADelt 64 (2009) Chr., 448-454
Legend :
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Date of creation
2020-06-13 11:31:26
Last modification
2024-01-19 09:12:28
Picture(s)
Fig. 1/ View of the fortification wall from the north
Fig. 2/ Partially excavated pithoi to the east of the defensive wall, from the west south-west
Fig. 3/ Pithos burial 14