Commingled burials and shifting notions of the self at the onset of the Mycenaean era (1700–1500 BCE):The case of the Ayios Vasilios North Cemetery, Laconia

Mortuary practices in southern Greece undergo a radical transformation at the beginning of the Mycenaean era (or Late Bronze Age, around 1700 BCE). This period sees the introduction of formal cemeteries, larger tombs, richer burials and a more complex ritual sequence involving multiple interments, tomb re-use and the ‘secondary treatment’ of earlier burials. ‘Secondary treatment’ is a rather vague, all-inclusive term, which includes various practices, such as disarticulating skeletons, mingling the bones and relocating them in piles or scatters either inside or outside the tomb (completely or selectively). Two questions arise: Why is this practice introduced? Why does it take different forms? The recent excavation of Ayios Vasilios North Cemetery in Laconia was designed on the basis of an integrated bioarchaeological strategy in order to provide the opportunity to fully explore these issues. While our ultimate goal is to understand the causes and consequences of the wider transformations in funerary practices, the focus of this paper is on one aspect: the re-use of graves and the secondary treatment of earlier burials. Through an integrated approach which aims to reconcile archaeological theory with current methodological advances in bioarchaeology and funerary taphonomy, we seek to reconstruct the funerary activities in great detail, in order to fully observe variation and change, and, ultimately, understand how this considerable variation may inform us on the re-definition of social relations at death, or shifting notions of the self. Beyond the specifics of the Mycenaean case-study, our aim is also to address broader methodological and theoretical questions, stressing the need for a true integration in the study of mortuary assemblages. To this end, we propose a taphonomy-oriented, methodological approach for the field recording and lab analysis of the human remains, drawing on current advances in archaeothanatology, forensic science, and analysis of commingled remains. This approach works best if placed within a clear theoretical framework, which recognises the manipulation of the dead body as closely associated with notions of personhood, and at the same time respects the historical specificity of the mortuary context and engages with the full complexity of contextual empirical data. Using the case of Ayios Vasilios in order to illustrate this process, our specific questions include: the formation characteristics of funerary assemblages, frequency and sequence of tomb use, diversity of secondary treatment, and age and sex differences in funerary treatment. Our results demonstrate a considerable extent of variation in funerary disposal and secondary treatment during this transitional period. Shifts of emphasis within this diverse treatment, especially regarding bodily fragmentation and modes of dispersal, suggest that, in Ayios Vasilios, a) age, but not sex, differences in funerary treatment were at play, b) mortuary transformation embodies the transformation from narrower (possibly household-based) associations to increasingly wider concepts of lineage and descent, c) tensions between tradition and innovation, as well as integration and differentiation, are evident in the variation of secondary treatment and co-existence of different forms (as already attested in other funerary and daily practices)

Towards a social bioarchaeology of the Mycenaean period: A multi-disciplinary analysis of funerary remains from the Late Helladic chamber tomb cemetery of Voudeni, Achaea, Greece.

This research seeks to develop a holistic bioarchaeological approach to the social dimensions of Mycenaean mortuary practice, with special reference to the treatment of the dead body, through the multi-dimensional analysis of human skeletal remains and contextual mortuary data from Voudeni, an important Late Mycenaean (1400-1050 BC) chamber tomb cemetery in Achaea, Greece. This approach aspires to transcend unproductive cross-disciplinary divisions, advocating the integration of theory and multi-faceted bio-cultural evidence, specifically addressing theoretical and methodological issues in the analysis of commingled skeletal remains. It proposes that the most effective route to explore social aspects in mortuary data is through an emic understanding of historically situated actions and experiences, both of the living actors, the mourners, and of the dead themselves. Human skeletal remains are the primary strand of evidence, both as the object of the acts of the living and the subject of their own lived experiences. The research is presented in successive stages: a) building a solid theoretical and methodological framework, b) presenting the sample and detailed osteological results, c) exploring the relationships of intersecting variables in bio-cultural mortuary data across socio-temporal parameters (with special emphasis on the distinction between the palatial LHIIIA-B and the transitional post-palatial LHIIIC period), and d) final synthesis, aiming to shed new light on questions pertaining to changing social conditions in Achaea and general issues in current Mycenaean mortuary research. These include: tomb re-use; form, diversity, sequence and frequency of mortuary activities; mortality profiles; differential inclusion/visibility and funerary treatment of social groups or different identities; changes in treatment of the dead body reflecting shifts in notions of the self and of social relationships. It was shown that the complex interaction between changing social conditions and mortuary practice was reflected in subtle emphasis shifts in the post-mortem treatment of bodies and bones rather than in blatant radical changes

Προς μια κοινωνική βιοαρχαιολογία της μυκηναϊκής περιόδου: μια διεπιστημονική ανάλυση των ταφικών καταλοίπων από το υστεροελλαδικό νεκροταφείο θαλαμωτών τάφων στη Βούντενη Αχαΐας

This research seeks to develop a holistic bioarchaeological approach to the social dimensions of Mycenaean mortuary practice, with special reference to the treatment of the dead body, through the multi-dimensional analysis of human skeletal remains and contextual mortuary data from Voudeni, an important Mycenaean (1400-1050 BC) chamber tomb cemetery in Achaea, Greece. This approach aspires to transcend unproductive cross-disciplinary divisions, advocating the integration of theory and multi-faceted bio-cultural evidence, specifically addressing theoretical and methodological issues in the analysis of commingled skeletal remains. It proposes that the most effective route to explore social aspects in mortuary data is through an emic understanding of historically situated actions and experiences, both of the living actors, the mourners, and of the dead themselves. Human skeletal remains are the primary strand of evidence, both as the object of the acts of the living and the subject of their own lived experiences. The research is presented in successive stages: a) building a solid theoretical and methodological framework, b) presenting the sample and detailed osteological results, c) exploring the relationships of intersecting variables in bio-cultural mortuary data across socio-temporal parameters (with special emphasis on the distinction between the palatial LHIIIA-B and the transitional post-palatial LHIIIC period), and d) final synthesis, aiming to shed new light on questions pertaining to changing social conditions in Achaea and general issues in current Mycenaean mortuary research. These include: tomb re-use; form, diversity, sequence and frequency of mortuary activities; mortality profiles; differential inclusion/visibility and funerary treatment of social groups or different identities; changes in treatment of the dead body reflecting shifts in notions of the self and of social relationships. It was shown that the complex interaction between changing social conditions and mortuary practice was reflected in subtle emphasis shifts in the post-mortem treatment of bodies and bones rather than in blatant radical changes.Η παρούσα μελέτη στοχεύει στην ανάπτυξη μιας ολιστικής βιοαρχαιολογικής προσέγγισης στις κοινωνικές διαστάσεις των Μυκηναϊκών ταφικών πρακτικών, με ιδιαίτερη έμφαση στη μεταχείριση του νεκρού σώματος. Βασικό εργαλείο συνιστά η διεπιστημονική ανάλυση των ανθρώπινων σκελετικών καταλοίπων και συγκείμενων ταφικών δεδομένων από τη Βούντενη, ένα σημαντικό Μυκηναϊκό (1400-1050 π.Χ.) νεκροταφείο θαλαμωτών τάφων στην Αχαΐα (Ελλάδα). Στόχος της προσέγγισης αυτής είναι να ξεπεράσει αδιέξοδες αντιθέσεις μεταξύ διαφορετικών επιστημονικών κλάδων υποστηρίζοντας μια γόνιμη σύνθεση κοινωνικής θεωρίας και ποικίλων βιο-πολιτισμικών δεδομένων. Ιδιαίτερο στόχο αποτελεί η αντιμετώπιση θεωρητικών και μεθοδολογικών ζητημάτων στην ανάλυση αναμοχλευμένων σκελετικών καταλοίπων. Ως πλέον αποτελεσματική προσέγγιση στα ταφικά δεδομένα προτείνεται η ημική κατανόηση συγκεκριμένων πράξεων και εμπειριών, τόσο των ζώντων που τελούν την ταφή όσο και των ίδιων των νεκρών κατά τη διάρκεια της ζωής τους. Τα ανθρώπινα σκελετικά κατάλοιπα αποτελούν την πρωταρχική πηγή πληροφοριών, και ερευνώνται τόσο ως αντικείμενο της δράσης των ζωντανών αλλά και ως υποκείμενο των δικών τους βιωμένων εμπειριών. Η παρούσα έρευνα παρουσιάζεται σε διαδοχικά στάδια: α) ανάπτυξη ενός στέρεου θεωρητικού και μεθοδολογικού πλαισίου, β) παρουσίαση του δείγματος και των αναλυτικών οστεολογικών αποτελεσμάτων, γ) διερεύνηση σχέσεων και αλληλεπίδρασης μεταξύ τεμνόμενων μεταβλητών βιο-πολιτισμικών δεδομένων και χρονικών ή κοινωνικών παραμέτρων (με ιδιαίτερη έμφαση στη διάκριση μεταξύ ανακτορικής ΥΕΙΙΙΑ-Β και μετανακτορικής ΥΕΙΙΙΓ περιόδου), και δ) τελική σύνθεση, με κατ’ εξοχήν στόχο ερωτήματα που αφορούν στις μεταβαλλόμενες κοινωνικές συνθήκες της Μυκηναϊκής Αχαΐας αλλά και σε ευρύτερα ζητήματα της σύγχρονης Μυκηναϊκής ταφικής έρευνας. Συγκεκριμένα, αυτά περιλαμβάνουν: επανάχρηση τάφων, τυπολογία, ποικιλομορφία, ακολουθία και συχνότητα ταφικών πράξεων, καμπύλες θνησιμότητας, διαφοροποιήσεις ως προς την συμπερίληψη, την ορατότητα και την εν γένει ταφική μεταχείριση κοινωνικών ομάδων και ταυτοτήτων, αλλαγές στη μεταχείριση του νεκρού σώματος, και συσχετισμός αυτών με μεταβολές στην αντίληψη του εαυτού και των κοινωνικών σχέσεων. Με την προσέγγιση αυτή έγινε φανερό πως η σύνθετη σχέση μεταξύ μεταβαλλόμενων κοινωνικών συνθηκών και ταφικής πρακτικής δεν εκφράζεται τόσο με έντονες ριζικές μεταβολές της ταφικής πράξης, αλλά κυρίως με ανεπαίσθητες εννοιολογικές διακυμάνσεις και μικρές μετατοπίσεις της έμφασης στη μεταχείριση του νεκρού σώματος

The geographic distribution of bioavailable strontium isotopes in Greece – A base for provenance studies in archaeology

Sr isotopes are a powerful tool used to reconstruct human mobility in archaeology. This requires extensive bioavailable 87Sr/86Sr baselines used as reference for deciphering potential areas of origin. We define the first extensive bioavailable Sr isotope baselines for the different geographical regions and surface lithologies of Greece by combining new Sr data with previously published bioavailable 87Sr/86Sr data. We present 82 new Sr concentrations and 87Sr/86Sr signatures of plants, soil leachates, surface waters and spring waters from Central Greece and combine these with published baseline values from all over Greece. We define individual baselines for ten of the thirteen geographical regions of Greece. We also provide soil leachate 87Sr/86Sr ratios from the two archaeological Bronze Age sites of Kirrha and Ayios Vasileios in Central and Southern Greece and demonstrate the validity and applicability of the new baselines for these sites. The bioavailable 87Sr/86Sr compositions of Central Greece define a narrow range of 87Sr/86Sr values between 0.70768 — 0.71021, with the widest range observed for the soil leachates. Sr derived from carbonate weathering appears to be the most important Sr source sampled by the proxies. There is an overall larger variability in baseline ranges of the different geographical regions, the narrowest is that for West Greece and the widest that for West Macedonia. In addition, we computed statistical Sr isotope ranges for the five main surface lithological groups characterising the sampling sites of the various proxies. Narrowly ranged, unradiogenic bioavailable Sr isotope signatures are typical of areas characterised by igneous outcrops as well as by Cenozoic and Mesozoic sediments. Areas, where Palaeozoic and Precambrian bedrock outcrops dominate, produce significantly wider ranges. Our study promotes the usefulness of multi-proxy baselines for geographical reference purposes and thus their promising applicability for future human mobility studies.</p

Revisiting the Tomb: Mortuary Practices in Habitation Areas in the Transition to the Late Bronze Age at Kirrha, Phocis.

International audienc

Eljotine

Sepia tone portrait of brown mare Eljotine being held by an unidentified man near the sheds at Skowhegan Fairgrounds, Thursday, August 19, 1937, Skowhegan, Maine.https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/kendall_images/3089/thumbnail.jp