La Sicilia preistorica: dinamiche interne e relazioni esterne : atti del Convegno internazionale di studi : Catania-Siracusa 7-9 ottobre 2021 / a cura di P. Militello, F. Nicoletti, R. Panvini, 2021
A low presen-ce of Early Bronze Age settlements along the middle valley of the river Dittaino had... more A low presen-ce of Early Bronze Age settlements along the middle valley of the river Dittaino had been explained, in the past, by the pre-sumed not very fertile nature of the land. Recent archaeological surveys of the area NW of the Catania Plain, on the other hand, have made it possible to demonstrate that such apparent scarcity was actually due to a research gap. One of the newly discovered settlements on the edge of the Catania Plain was located at the foot of the rock formation called Pietraperciata (perforated rock), suggestively sculpted by nature, two kilometers from the course of the Dittaino river. The presence of a prehistoric village is proved by fragments of millstones for grinding cereals, lithic tools (flint, jasper, quartzite, basalt) and Early Bronze Age sherds scattered on the surface. The rock carvings are located a few hundred meters from the Early Bron-ze Age settlement, on the top of the rock formation, within a small rock shelter overlooking the Dittaino river valley. They represent one of the very few examples of rock art in eastern Sicily. A Φ-shaped human figure, typical of late European prehistory, and star-like and cruciform motifs are engraved there. Linear incisions typical of the Mesolithic have been disco-vered in another sector of the rocky ridge when drafting the present paper.
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about m 500 away, is one of the most important funerary contexts in Iron Age Crete. Discovered in 1969 and excavated from that
year until 1978, the necropolis has remained essentially unpublished, except for a few articles and two extensive general reports by
its discoverer, Giovanni Rizza. A few years ago, a project for the study and publication of the necropolis was launched, involving
a group of scholars with different specializations. The aim of this article is to give a preliminary report on the results obtained
during these years of work, a general overview of the different phases, and some in-depth studies related to those areas in which
the work of documentation and study is now at an advanced stage. Among these, it seemed appropriate to devote ample space to
some of the results of the archaeozoological analyses, in view of the fact that the necropolis of Siderospilia is the context that has
so far yielded the greatest number of horse and dog burials. Finally, the ARCHIAS project for the creation and implementation
of a digital archive for the preservation and management of all the paper, drawing and photographic material relating to the necropolis,
which forms the basis of the study and publication project, is presented.
ανασκάφηκε από τον Doro Levi το 1924, αφορά στον οικισμό που παραδοσιακά ταυτιζόταν με την αρχαία πόλη
των Αρκάδων, και ήταν η πρώτη ως ένα βαθμό που ανακαλύφθηκε στην Κρήτη. Η περιπετειώδης πορεία της ανα-
σκαφής και της δημοσίευσης και η απουσία επόμενων προγραμματισμένων ερευνών στον χώρο αφήνουν πολλά
σκοτεινά σημεία και μερικές φορές έχουν οδηγήσει σε παραπλανητική ερμηνεία των ανασκαφικών δεδομένων.
Πολυάριθμα αντικείμενα, αλλά προερχόμενα από ταραχώδεις λαθρανασκαφές που έγιναν στον λόφο τη δεκαετία
του 1960, δεν βοηθούν στη διευκρίνιση της ιστορίας του αρχαίου οικισμού.
Η αναθεώρηση του εξοπλισμού των επιμέρους τάφων και των διαθέσιμων ανασκαφικών δεδομένων, χάρη
και στη μεγαλύτερη γνώση των υλικών σχεδόν εκατό χρόνια μετά την ανασκαφή, προσφέρει νέα στοιχεία για την
αποσαφήνιση ενός πιο αντικειμενικού τοπογραφικού πλαισίου διαχρονικά. Ένα από τα πιο ενδιαφέροντα στοιχεία
είναι η ελάχιστα τεκμηριωμένη σε άλλα μέρη του νησιού, παρουσία ταφών που χρονολογούνται μετά το 630 π.Χ.
και στην αρχαϊκή περίοδο. Αναδύεται λοιπόν, η εικόνα ενός οικισμού της πρώιμης Εποχής του Σιδήρου που ήταν σε
επαφή κυρίως με τις σύγχρονές του «πόλεις» στην κεντρική Κρήτη. Η προνομιούχα θέση του στη διασταύρωση
των κατευθύνσεων Ανατολής-Δύσης και Βορρά-Νότου ευνόησε τις σχέσεις με τον έξω κόσμο και την κυκλοφορία
ανθρώπων, αγαθών και ιδεών.
The tombs of the Protogeometric phase (970-840 BC) were concentrated on a rocky rise in the north-eastern quadrant of the necropolis. The place-name Siderospilia (Iron cave) may be linked to the discovery, in the past, of one or more tombs containing a large amount of iron objects, above all weapons (e.g. Tomb J). The presence of several (at least 20) tombs of horses and dogs not associated with human remains, dating since the Protogeometric period, is the main feature of the Siderospilia cemetery. This evidence validates the hypothesis of a Cretan origin of the mortuary practices - in particular the killing of horses and dogs - described by Homer in connection with the funeral of Patroclus. The reflection of Cretan burial customs in such an important event of the Iliad is a first, important, indication of the projection of Crete towards the "outside world".
Ceramics and metal objects testify to specific connections with the Greek continent, with Cyprus and with Egypt. The products imported from these areas are often prestige goods that only the wealthy local elites could afford. The social need to exhibit these products in the context of expensive mortuary practices can be considered the driving force of the interconnections with the "outside world". The central position of the anonymous settlement, on the route connecting the northern and southern coasts of central Crete, made easier such contacts.
Given these premises, the settlement on the Patela hill had to play a non-secondary role as a receiver and processor of cultural impulses coming from the "outside world". This will be visually evident, in the next Protogeometric B phase, thanks to the rich non-native decorative repertoire that will merge in the local pottery.
conducted in response to the threat of earthworks from the widening of the main road linking
Crete’s northern and southern coasts. The data shed new light on a previously unknown
region in an important area of the island and invite consideration on ancient communication
lines. These field investigations add some new areas of Minoan pottery scatters and a new
burial site to the previously known sites. A large Minoan settlement was also discovered on
a wide rocky plateau (Aghiosthomiani Patela) opposite the well-known Iron Age polis situated
on a similar plateau (the Priniani Patela). In the first area, archaeological evidence dating both
to the First and to the Second Palace periods fills the gap between Knossos and Phaistos with
regard to large Minoan settlements. Furthermore, some areas with Early Iron Age evidence
bear witness to the stretch of an ancient route linking the Mesara area and the anonymous
city on the Priniani Patela with Mount Ida.
The tomb furnishings of the known Knossian cemeteries provide the reference frame for the ceramic sequence in central Crete until ca. 630 BC, when all of them were suddenly abandoned. After this year, which is the final term for the Knossian Late Orientalizing, finds are very rare. In addition, the evidence of the period at the turn of the 7th and the 6th centuries is scarce elsewhere in Crete. The Iron Age necropolis on the steep western slope of the Prophitis Ilias ridge in central Crete (nearby the modern village of Aphrati Pediadas) is an exception. The cemetery consists of a sort of “urn field”, with more than 160 individual secondary cremation burials in the open field, and of six built tombs containing both inhumations and cremation urns. Inverted clay basins covered some of the cremation urns buried in the open field. The presence of Corinthian imports, and of local vases under Corinthian influence related to the individual burials, is the circumstance that provides a reliable chronological base for dating the grave goods of the latest individual tombs in a period between 630/615 and 550 BC. On this basis, we can throw some light on this “Last” Orientalizing phase by sketching out the features of the ceramic production in a central Crete site and partially fill the chronological gap between the end of the 7th and the 6th centuries BC.
The use of inverted clay basins to cover some of the individual burials is the most outstanding feature at Aphrati-Arkades and is particularly in vogue during the last phase of the necropolis. This custom has implied historical speculation, since has been attributed to Oriental refugees buried at Aphrati. A re-examination of the problem suggests directions for further research.
Il lavoro, pur non essendo il risultato di una ricerca sistematica, dà tuttavia idea delle dinamiche di popolamento di un’area collinare posta lungo la via che collega la costa settentrionale di Creta a quella meridionale.
The ceramics of Siderospilia continue, in parallel with the Knossos’ ones, the legacy of the TM IIIC and, at the same time, independently from the Knossos area, re-elaborate decorative motives and suggestions coming from the outside, especially from Cyprus. Among the imports, the showiest one is a rare Attic Late Protogeometric krater (1000-900 BC), which is the only one so far found in in a necropolis of Crete and the southernmost exported specimen in the Aegean Sea. The recipients of this and of other, valuable, imported metal products had to be the members of wealthy local aristocracies. Finally, it seems that the anonymous site on the Patela hill, thanks also to its privileged position on the route connecting the northern and the southern coasts of the island, attracted goods and ideas from various parts of the Mediterranean basin and that its role as mediator of stimuli coming from the outside was not secondary.
about m 500 away, is one of the most important funerary contexts in Iron Age Crete. Discovered in 1969 and excavated from that
year until 1978, the necropolis has remained essentially unpublished, except for a few articles and two extensive general reports by
its discoverer, Giovanni Rizza. A few years ago, a project for the study and publication of the necropolis was launched, involving
a group of scholars with different specializations. The aim of this article is to give a preliminary report on the results obtained
during these years of work, a general overview of the different phases, and some in-depth studies related to those areas in which
the work of documentation and study is now at an advanced stage. Among these, it seemed appropriate to devote ample space to
some of the results of the archaeozoological analyses, in view of the fact that the necropolis of Siderospilia is the context that has
so far yielded the greatest number of horse and dog burials. Finally, the ARCHIAS project for the creation and implementation
of a digital archive for the preservation and management of all the paper, drawing and photographic material relating to the necropolis,
which forms the basis of the study and publication project, is presented.
ανασκάφηκε από τον Doro Levi το 1924, αφορά στον οικισμό που παραδοσιακά ταυτιζόταν με την αρχαία πόλη
των Αρκάδων, και ήταν η πρώτη ως ένα βαθμό που ανακαλύφθηκε στην Κρήτη. Η περιπετειώδης πορεία της ανα-
σκαφής και της δημοσίευσης και η απουσία επόμενων προγραμματισμένων ερευνών στον χώρο αφήνουν πολλά
σκοτεινά σημεία και μερικές φορές έχουν οδηγήσει σε παραπλανητική ερμηνεία των ανασκαφικών δεδομένων.
Πολυάριθμα αντικείμενα, αλλά προερχόμενα από ταραχώδεις λαθρανασκαφές που έγιναν στον λόφο τη δεκαετία
του 1960, δεν βοηθούν στη διευκρίνιση της ιστορίας του αρχαίου οικισμού.
Η αναθεώρηση του εξοπλισμού των επιμέρους τάφων και των διαθέσιμων ανασκαφικών δεδομένων, χάρη
και στη μεγαλύτερη γνώση των υλικών σχεδόν εκατό χρόνια μετά την ανασκαφή, προσφέρει νέα στοιχεία για την
αποσαφήνιση ενός πιο αντικειμενικού τοπογραφικού πλαισίου διαχρονικά. Ένα από τα πιο ενδιαφέροντα στοιχεία
είναι η ελάχιστα τεκμηριωμένη σε άλλα μέρη του νησιού, παρουσία ταφών που χρονολογούνται μετά το 630 π.Χ.
και στην αρχαϊκή περίοδο. Αναδύεται λοιπόν, η εικόνα ενός οικισμού της πρώιμης Εποχής του Σιδήρου που ήταν σε
επαφή κυρίως με τις σύγχρονές του «πόλεις» στην κεντρική Κρήτη. Η προνομιούχα θέση του στη διασταύρωση
των κατευθύνσεων Ανατολής-Δύσης και Βορρά-Νότου ευνόησε τις σχέσεις με τον έξω κόσμο και την κυκλοφορία
ανθρώπων, αγαθών και ιδεών.
The tombs of the Protogeometric phase (970-840 BC) were concentrated on a rocky rise in the north-eastern quadrant of the necropolis. The place-name Siderospilia (Iron cave) may be linked to the discovery, in the past, of one or more tombs containing a large amount of iron objects, above all weapons (e.g. Tomb J). The presence of several (at least 20) tombs of horses and dogs not associated with human remains, dating since the Protogeometric period, is the main feature of the Siderospilia cemetery. This evidence validates the hypothesis of a Cretan origin of the mortuary practices - in particular the killing of horses and dogs - described by Homer in connection with the funeral of Patroclus. The reflection of Cretan burial customs in such an important event of the Iliad is a first, important, indication of the projection of Crete towards the "outside world".
Ceramics and metal objects testify to specific connections with the Greek continent, with Cyprus and with Egypt. The products imported from these areas are often prestige goods that only the wealthy local elites could afford. The social need to exhibit these products in the context of expensive mortuary practices can be considered the driving force of the interconnections with the "outside world". The central position of the anonymous settlement, on the route connecting the northern and southern coasts of central Crete, made easier such contacts.
Given these premises, the settlement on the Patela hill had to play a non-secondary role as a receiver and processor of cultural impulses coming from the "outside world". This will be visually evident, in the next Protogeometric B phase, thanks to the rich non-native decorative repertoire that will merge in the local pottery.
conducted in response to the threat of earthworks from the widening of the main road linking
Crete’s northern and southern coasts. The data shed new light on a previously unknown
region in an important area of the island and invite consideration on ancient communication
lines. These field investigations add some new areas of Minoan pottery scatters and a new
burial site to the previously known sites. A large Minoan settlement was also discovered on
a wide rocky plateau (Aghiosthomiani Patela) opposite the well-known Iron Age polis situated
on a similar plateau (the Priniani Patela). In the first area, archaeological evidence dating both
to the First and to the Second Palace periods fills the gap between Knossos and Phaistos with
regard to large Minoan settlements. Furthermore, some areas with Early Iron Age evidence
bear witness to the stretch of an ancient route linking the Mesara area and the anonymous
city on the Priniani Patela with Mount Ida.
The tomb furnishings of the known Knossian cemeteries provide the reference frame for the ceramic sequence in central Crete until ca. 630 BC, when all of them were suddenly abandoned. After this year, which is the final term for the Knossian Late Orientalizing, finds are very rare. In addition, the evidence of the period at the turn of the 7th and the 6th centuries is scarce elsewhere in Crete. The Iron Age necropolis on the steep western slope of the Prophitis Ilias ridge in central Crete (nearby the modern village of Aphrati Pediadas) is an exception. The cemetery consists of a sort of “urn field”, with more than 160 individual secondary cremation burials in the open field, and of six built tombs containing both inhumations and cremation urns. Inverted clay basins covered some of the cremation urns buried in the open field. The presence of Corinthian imports, and of local vases under Corinthian influence related to the individual burials, is the circumstance that provides a reliable chronological base for dating the grave goods of the latest individual tombs in a period between 630/615 and 550 BC. On this basis, we can throw some light on this “Last” Orientalizing phase by sketching out the features of the ceramic production in a central Crete site and partially fill the chronological gap between the end of the 7th and the 6th centuries BC.
The use of inverted clay basins to cover some of the individual burials is the most outstanding feature at Aphrati-Arkades and is particularly in vogue during the last phase of the necropolis. This custom has implied historical speculation, since has been attributed to Oriental refugees buried at Aphrati. A re-examination of the problem suggests directions for further research.
Il lavoro, pur non essendo il risultato di una ricerca sistematica, dà tuttavia idea delle dinamiche di popolamento di un’area collinare posta lungo la via che collega la costa settentrionale di Creta a quella meridionale.
The ceramics of Siderospilia continue, in parallel with the Knossos’ ones, the legacy of the TM IIIC and, at the same time, independently from the Knossos area, re-elaborate decorative motives and suggestions coming from the outside, especially from Cyprus. Among the imports, the showiest one is a rare Attic Late Protogeometric krater (1000-900 BC), which is the only one so far found in in a necropolis of Crete and the southernmost exported specimen in the Aegean Sea. The recipients of this and of other, valuable, imported metal products had to be the members of wealthy local aristocracies. Finally, it seems that the anonymous site on the Patela hill, thanks also to its privileged position on the route connecting the northern and the southern coasts of the island, attracted goods and ideas from various parts of the Mediterranean basin and that its role as mediator of stimuli coming from the outside was not secondary.
Il risultato è un manuale non convenzionale che offre spunti originali e concreti agli archeologi del futuro in cerca di reali possibilità di occupazione. Una sorta di bottega artigiana dove apprendere i segreti del mestiere, o meglio dei mestieri, che un’archeologia nuova, pragmatica e ancorata nel presente può ispirare.