Ancestral cult place?

Author of the notice : A. Mazarakis Ainian

Location

Place : Tsikalario
: Naxos isl.
Notice linked to toponyme Naxos

Description

GENERAL

In the area of rocky plateau of Tragaia, near the village of Tsikalario, in the centre of the island of Naxos, a necropolis of the Geometric period has been investigated. Within the necropolis a number of buildings were also identified, probably associated with the cult of thedead.


MONUMENTS

A building situated at the NE of the necropolis (sector A) and a complex of rooms, at the SW of the necropolis (sector B), have been linked to funerary and chthonian cults.

 

1. BUILDING A

Rectangular building, oriented towards the SW, measuring 12,50 x 6,00 m. The walls must have been built of stones up to their full height. The bases of the wooden supporters of the roof were made of stone too. Both rooms of the building save traces of floor paving. In the middle of the main room a hearth was found. 

Description: The building consists of arectangular room divided into three naves by two rows of columns and preceded by a smaller one. In the center of the main room was found a rectangular hearth (0,82x0,92 m) surrounded by stone slabs. Near it was discovered a burnt area with carbonized grapes.

FUNCTION

The building may have been a shrine devoted to a chthonian deity.

 

2. ARCHITECTURAL COMPLEX B

Agglutinated edifice consisting of several rooms. Overall dimensions: 18x15 m, 12x4 m

The walls must have been built of stones up to their full height. The bases of the wooden supporters of the roof were made of stone too. Benches, Hearths an supports.

Description: The complex of rooms consists of two groups, the eastern and the western. The eastern and bigger one constitutes ten rooms, which may form two units. In one room of the first unit, traces of a staircase have been identified. In two rooms of the second unit, were found rectangular hearths surrounded by stone slabs. Near them it was discovered burnt area. The western complex constitutes three rooms.

Comments: The complex of rooms may serve to accommodate those who practiced the funerary rites (individuals, cult associations and/or priests). Some of them may have served for the storage of the vessels used in the ceremonies. Some scholars argue that the complex of rooms in sector B represents residential area.

 

3. RECTANGULAR BUILDING C

Located next to a tumulus. Identified either as an ossuary (P. Themelis) or as a cult building related to the cult of the dead.


FINDS

Clay Vessels

Stone Vessels

Other objects (stone tools, fragments of a clay sprinkler)

Animal bones: Unspecified

Other organic materials (carbonized fruits)

Comments: Coarse ware pottery represent almost the 50% of the pottery found in building A and B. Stone vessels and tools, as well as fragments of an archaic clay sprinkler were found in the complex of the rooms (building B).

Unfortunately the coarse fragments do not help to a better dating of the buildings.


CHRONOLOGY

Late Middle Geometric (?)/Late Geometric (?)/Archaic (8th c.-7th c. B.C.).


RECORDS

Excavation Date: 1966

Institution/Excavator: Greek Archaeological Service/Zaphiropoulou Ph.

Excavation Type: Systematic


 

REFERENCES

Primary Publications:

  • Charalambidou X. 2008-2009. The pottery from the Early Iron Age necropolis of Tsikalario on Naxos: preliminary observations, A.I.O.N. 2008-2009, Nuova Serie N. 15-16: 57-69
  • Papadopoulou - Zaphiropoulou Ph. Νάξος. Τσικαλαριό, AD, 21, 1966, B’2: 325
  • Zaphiropoulou Ph. 1984. La necropolis geometrica di Tsikalario a Naxos, Magna Graecia, 18, 1984: 1-4

Secondary Publications:

  • Coldstream N. 20032. Geometric Greece. London, 20032: 92
  • Lauter H. 1985. Der Kultplatz auf dem Turkovuni, AM 12, 1985: 174
  • Themelis P. G. 1976. Frühgriechische Grabbauten, Mainz, 1976: 24

On the necropolis see recently:

  • Charalambidou, X. 2008-2009. The Pottery from the Early Iron Age Necropolis of Tsikalario on Naxos: Preliminary Observations, AION n. 15-16, 57-69.
  • Charalambidou, X. 2011. Quantitative Αnalysis of the Pottery from the Early Iron Age Necropolis of Tsikalario on Naxos, in Verdan, S. –Theurillat Th.– Kenzelmann Pfyffer A. (eds), Early Iron Age Pottery: A Quantitative Approach, Proceedings of the International Round Table organized by the Swiss School of Archaeology in Greece (Athens, November 28-30, 2008), Oxford, 139-147.
  • Charalambidou, X. 2010-2012, Κεραμικά ευρήματα από τη νεκρόπολη του Τσικαλαριού στη Νάξο: παρατηρήσεις σχετικά με το ταφικό περιβάλλον και τη χρήση των ευρημάτων, Archaeognosia16, 149-186.
Investigation :
No data
Reference :
No data
Monuments dedicace cultual law decreet insc. honorific other Ref
No data found
Finds dedicace cultual law decreet insc. honorific other Ref
No data found