Ritual pyres?

GENERAL

Vathy Limenari is a narrow rocky promontory at the south of Donousa. At the edge of the steep slope to the W,  two burnt deposits (pyres) were found, which may have been associated with cult activities.

MONUMENTS

West of House XI and N of House X3 two large deposits were discovered. One of them (7.00x7.50 m) was covered with earth and stones bordered to the S and possibly to the N by small stones and to the E by the natural bedrock. The pyre was 0.60 – 0.80 m thick. The second pyre was located 1.50 m to the E of the first one and at a higher level.

FINDS

Clay Vessels, burnt animal bones and mollusks are mentioned. The vessels were found in a fragmentary condition, but almost complete. A small krater might have had a religious function.

CHRONOLOGY

The material dates in the Middle Geometric Period (last quarter of the 9th c.-beginning of the 8th c. B.C.).

IDENTIFICATION

The purpose of the pyres has not been clarified. They have been interpreted as byrial pyres, rubbish deposits (communal hearths), sacrificial pyres or even as bonfires by pirates for attracting ships (K. Fagerstrom). 

RECORDS

Excavation Date: 1968

Institution/Excavator: Greek Archaeological Service / Ph. Zaphiropoulou

Excavation Type: Systematic

REFERENCES

Primary Publications:

• Zaphiropoulou Ph. 1969. Δονούσα, ΑΔ 24: 390-392
• Zaphiropoulou Ph. 1990. Ο Γεωμετρικóς οικισμóς Δονοúσας, Ίδρυμα Ν Γουλανδρή Μουσεíο Κυκλαδικής Τέχνης. Διαλέξεις, 1986-1989, Athens, 43-54

SecondaryPublications:

• Coldstream N. 2003².Geometric Greece. London, 2003², 91-92
• Ekschmitt W. 1986. Die Kunst und Kultur der Kykladen, II. Geometrische und Archaische Zeit, Mainz, 1986, 31-34
• Fagerström K. 1985. Donousa-ett piratfäste fran järnaldern, Medusa 5: 9-15
• Fagerström K. 1988. GreekIron Age Architecture : Developments through Changing Times, SIMA 81, Göteborg, 69-72
• Gounaris A. 1999. Έρευνες οικιστικής των Πρωτογεωμετρικών – Γεωμετρικών Κυκλάδων και τα ζητούμενα της Κυκλαδικής Πρωτοϊστορίας, Σταμπολίδης Ν. Χρ., Φως Κυκλαδικόν – τιμητικός τόμος στη μνήμη του Νίκου Ζαφειρόπουλου. Athens, 108
• Gounaris A. 2005. Cult places in the Cyclades during the Protogeometric and Geometric periods: their contribution in interpreting the rise of the Cycladic poleis, Yeroulanou M., Stamatopoulou M. (eds), Architecture and Archaeology in the Cyclades. Papers in honour of J. J. Coulton, Oxford, 30, 55, 57, 60, 64, 67
• Mazarakis Ainian A. 1997. From Ruler’s Dwellings to Temples. Architecture, Religion and Society in Early Iron Age Greece. SIMA ,121, Jonsered, 194-195
• Morris I. 1987. Burial and Society. Cambridge, 107
• Philaniotou O. 2001. New evidence for the topography of Naxos in the Geometric period, Lentini M.C. (ed), The two Naxos Cities: a Fine Link between the Aegean sea and Sicily, 14-30 June 2001 University of Athens, 6-31 July Archaeological Museum of the Island of Naxos, Palermo, 91
• Syriopoulos G. T. 1984. Εισαγωγὴ εις την αρχαìαν ελληνικὴν ιστορíαν. Οι Μεταβατικοì Χρóνοι 1200-700, Athens, Vol. B, Index, s.v. Donoussa, esp. 210, 612-713, 709-710
• Vanschoonwinkel J. 1991. L’Egée et la méditerranée orientale à la fin du IIe millénaire, témoignages archéologiques et sources écrites, Louvain-la-Neuve, 1991, 154