Αιανή 2007 : η έρευνα στο ανατολικό νεκροταφείο
Part of : Το Αρχαιολογικό Έργο στη Μακεδονία και στη Θράκη ; Vol.21, No.1, 2007, pages 37-46
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Pages:
37-46
Parallel Title:
Aiani 2007 : research in the eastern cemetery
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Abstract:
In the Eastern Cemetery of Aiani, following excavation of 80 graves in 1985-1986, exploration begun in 2005 with the discovery of a total of 257 graves was completed. The cemetery extended over two dense clusters, with a third containing 24 graves further to the southeast. In the middle cluster, the graves were organized into ten series of pits, nearly all with the same orientation; apart from two, they had been looted. The only unlooted grave identified in our more recent investigation belonged to the more westerly cluster, where most of the graves were unlooted. Apart from the graves, in the northeast part of the middle cluster an oval area was discovered bounded by a simple, shallow channel surrounding the grave. This was probably the burial site of a prominent individual or particular family, though we cannot exclude the possibility that it delimited the boundaries for rituals after death. The pits contained burials, and there was a limited use of wooden coffins or litters for the placement of the deceased, as attested by a few nails that were discovered. Grave gifts included pottery and a limited number of metal objects; gold jewelry must have been exceptionally rare, and coins were also rare, although this year, out of a total of 23 graves discovered, gold earrings were found in two (T162, T187), and a total of nine coins were preserved in eight graves.The unlooted female burial 162 included 123 animal bones placed around the body of the deceased with a regular arrangement not found in any other tomb at Aiani or in the wider area, seven unguentaria, and another five clay vases, including a pyxis containing 66 glass and 4 clay beads, and a plate with a unique painted composition. The deceased held a bronze coin of Cassander (310-305 B.C) in the palm of her hand, and on one of the fingers of her left hand she was wearing a silver ring with round bezel; the goldlions-head earrings in her ears were a valuable piece of jewelry. In T187 there were also preserved two gold earrings in the shape of a half-moon or “boat”, differing in the motifs of their decoration. These are datable to the second half of the 4th century B.C. In the looted grave T166, funerary gifts of interest included two figurines of doves, the sacred bird of Aphrodite. In the male burial T192 was found a shallow rectangular vessel made from a copper-lead alloy, with a handle and small phiale on its interior, similar to that from another grave in the same cemetery and a third, intact example of bronze from the cemetery at the site of Livadia, Aiani. A similar piece was collected from a destroyed tomb at Agios Chistoforos, Eordaia. These vases, which are unknown from elsewhere, fall within the 4th century B.C. and have been found in both female and male burials. We interpret them as vases for mixing various materials for medical or cosmetic use. In T183, we probably find the same vase in clay, while a turtle was found in T203.From the total assemblage of clay vases in the cemetery, the plates comprise a separate group of finds; they are represented by 40 examples throughout the entire cemetery, with a variety of painted decoration consisting of large floral compositions which amount to unique pieces, confirming the tradition of innovation by Aiani workshops and their use over a long period, from the Bronze Age to the Roman period, in pottery and figurines as well as sculpture and metalworking. Kalathoi, another special vase type from a local Aiani workshop, are represented by 18 examples, in addition to salt-cellars, kantharoi, and kantha- ros-cups.One surprising discovery was that of two silver Ω-shaped earrings (T230) ending in snake’s-heads, similar to gold and silver examples found in Aiani’s Archaic/Classical cemetery.
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Keywords:
νεκροταφεία, Κοζάνη
Notes:
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