Location of the cemetery – General description
In the vicinity of “Stavros” in Kakapetra, Parikia, Paros, situated on the outskirts of the present-day settlement and very close to the hill where the sanctuaries of Asclepius and Apollo Pythios are located, a rescue excavation was conducted during the years 2015, 2016, 2020, 2021, and 2022. This excavation was carried out under the auspices of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Cyclades and funded by the landowners in compliance with the regulations of the archaeological law.
Within this specific plot, an area believed to be a part of the southern cemetery of the ancient polis of Paros has been unearthed. Burials from the classical period have been discovered in the land owned by E. Margaritis, along the ring road and within the ‘Germanika’ grove. It is worth noting that the site has not been fully explored, and, up to the present, a total of 104 burials have come to light.
Tombs Typology
The deceased were interred in ditches, primarily as single burials, though occasionally as pairs. Notably, one luxurious marble tomb, containing the remains of a female (Tomb 16) was uncovered, while a family burial was identified elsewhere. The tombs were constructed using rough stones or large roof tiles. These tombs were primarily cist-shaped, covered with flat slate stones, and in some instances, incorporated earlier marble grave stelae. Furthermore, there were graves constructed using flat roof tiles arranged in a pitched roof formation. In other cases, the deceased was laid directly on the bare ground, while small children were buried within vessels (enchytrismos burial). In many instances, the deceased’s skull was encircled or protected by surrounding stones. Infants were placed in unpainted amphorae and often accompanied by containers for salt. A mound made of stones and earth was erected above the graves, crowned with a marble grave stele.
The burials of Tomb 16 and Tomb 28
Tomb 16 is constructed entirely from marble, consisting of four marble slabs, and is securely sealed with a marble cover. Its orientation is NW/SE. The deceased, a woman in her 40s, was placed on a wooden bed, a fact supported by the nails we recovered. In her right hand, she held a vase, and numerous small bone rings, likely intended to be sewn onto her burial attire, were found scattered around her. Additionally, two other vases and a bronze mirror were included as grave goods. Based on the items found alongside the deceased, this burial is estimated to date back to the 4th century BC.
Tomb 28 is a pit grave containing the skeleton of a small child, estimated to be about seven years old. The child was placed in a supine position with the skull oriented to the NW. The tomb was filled with soil and ash from burnt offerings, which the child’s relatives deposited through a hole purposefully created in the sealed covering slab. The deceased child was accompanied by two lekythoi. In the immediate vicinity of the tomb, numerous broken vessels used in funeral rites or as offerings following the burial were discovered. Based on the artefacts found alongside the deceased child, this burial is dated to the second half of the 4th century BC.
The grave goods and the finds
The discovered items can be categorised into two types: a) grave goods found within the tombs and b) pottery accumulations found outside the tombs. The latter are associated with post-burial funerary rituals or represent deposits of pottery used for offerings, as they were considered impure to be placed inside the tomb. Of particular significance and interest are the unpainted commercial amphorae, repurposed for the interment of small children. The finds consist of approximately 200 small-sized vessels, encompassing aryballoid lekythoi, oenochoai, skyphoi, plates, kylikes, lamps, and more. Furthermore, the tombs yielded various metal objects, including silver coins (including Athenian, Parian, and a single Rhodian coin) that accompanied the deceased, as well as bronze and iron rings, strigils (sickle-shaped tools used for the removal of oil and soil from an athlete’s body after a wrestling match), knives, mirrors, and other items.
Several marble grave stelai have come to light, with some of them bearing inscriptions. These stelai constitute a distinct and significant category of finds. Furthermore, they have been identified as construction material for later tombs.
Notably, a well discovered at the site yielded the remains of 21 infants, all under 40 weeks old. Examination of these remains revealed indications of diseases such as anaemia and scurvy. The neonatal bones were found alongside dog and cat bones. Evidently, there are signs of chthonic rituals dedicated to the goddess Hecate, including the ‘periskylakismos’ ritual, which involved the sacrifice of dogs for purification purposes. Further investigation is underway to determine if this case resembles those of the wells found in the ancient Agora in Athens, ancient Messene, and Eretria, which are clearly associated with the untimely deaths of infants, hurried burials, and the concurrent practice of purification through dog sacrifices.
Dating of the Southern Cemetery
Based on the analysis of the finds, including the burial types, associated objects, and pottery, it can be determined that the burials range in date from the mid-4th century BC to the 2nd century BC.
Initial interpretations
The southern cemetery likely pertains to a neighbouring community located outside the walls of Paros or has a connection, owing to its close proximity, with the Sanctuary of Asclepius and Apollo Pythios. This interpretation is reinforced by the names of deceased individuals originating from places outside Paros, like Athinogenes from Tenos. These individuals were probably visitors to the Sanctuary of Asclepius, seeking healing on the island but ultimately laid to rest in the cemetery near the Sanctuary of Asclepius.
Apostolos Sp. Papadimitriou is an archaeologist at the Eforate of Antiquities of the Cyclades.
SCIENTIFIC TEAM
Archaeologists participated in the excavation of the cemetery: Th. Garonis, Syrmali Donta (archaeologist-zooarchaeologist), I. Stathis, M. Georgiadou, and Dr. Valasia Strati (anthropologist). The finds are conserved by the conservator Chr. Damatopoulou, while the tombs are designed by the conservator-designer Vaia Papazikou.
The sponsor of the conservation of the finds is the Aigeas Foundation (Athanasios & Marina Martinou)
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