keros: dhaskalio and kavos, early cycladic stronghold and ritual centre, annual of the british...

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Keros: Dhaskalio and Kavos, Early Cycladic Stronghold and Ritual Centre. Preliminary Report ofthe 2006 and 2007 Excavation Seasons Author(s): Colin Renfrew, Olga Philanioutou, Neil Brodie, Giorgos Gavalas, Evi Margaritis, Charles French and Panagiota Sotirakopoulou Source: The Annual of the British School at Athens, Vol. 102 (2007), pp. 103-136Published by: British School at AthensStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/30245247Accessed: 18-05-2015 09:43 UTC

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KEROS: DHASKALIO AND KAVOS, EARLY CYCLADIC STRONGHOLD AND RITUAL CENTRE. PRELIMINARY REPORT

OF THE 200oo6 AND 2007 EXCAVATION SEASONS'

INTRODUCTION

SINCE 1963 the site of Dhaskalio Kavos, on the west coast of the Cycladic island of Keros, opposite the small islet of Dhaskalio (FIGS. 1-2; PLATES 1 a, 2 a), has been widely known for the extensive looting which had clearly taken place there some years previously, leaving scattered on the ground great quantities of fragmentary Early Cycladic artefacts, including potsherds, broken marble bowls and pieces of marble figurines. Rescue excavations by Christos Doumas and Photeini Zapheiropoulou were followed in 1987 by systematic survey and excavation in the looted area in a project directed by Christos Doumas, Lila Marangou, and Colin Renfrew.

The Cambridge Keros Project is directed by Colin Renfrew, with Olga Philaniotou as Associate Director and Neil Brodie and Giorgos Gavalas as Assistant Directors. It is a project of the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research of the University of Cambridge, with generous support from INSTAP (Institute for Aegean Prehistory), the Balzan Foundation, the Stavros S. Niarchos Foundation, the British Academy, the Society of Antiquaries of London and the British School at Athens. The Project is grateful to Christos Doumas, Photeini Zapheiropoulou, and Lila Marangou for their warm support for the enterprise, to the British School and its Director, James Whitley, for making application to the Greek Archaeological Service for a permit to excavate, and to Mariza Marthari, Director of the 21st Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities for her encouragement and assistance in many ways. Excavation work was conducted from 3 May to 14 June 2oo6, and from 3 May to 13 June 20oo07.

The excavation team in 2oo6 included the following: Anna-Maria Christopoulou, Nektarios Karadimas, Jorrit Kelder, Morag Kersel, Thomas Loughlin, Marina MiliK, Barry Molloy, loanna Moutafi, Margarita Nazou, Ilias Tsouktatos, Thanos Webb, and Lefteris Zorzos, with workmen from Amorgos, Naxos, and Kouphonisi, with Lefteris Tsavaris as phylax, representing the Ephor, and with Panagiota Sotirakopoulou (ceramics), Joseph Severn (survey), and Dora Papangelopoulou (apotheke)

The workmen in 2oo6 were Vassilis Kritikos and Giannis Probonas from Naxos, Giannis Stratoudakis and Nikolaos Simigdalas from Amorgos, and Phanis Lesi, Nikos Neza, and Gaismani Lesi from Kouphonisi. Stella Roussou assisted in washing the pottery.

The excavation team in 200oo7 comprised most of the 2oo6 team, with the addition of Ellen Adams, Helen Dawson, Chloe Duckworth, Karina Iwe, Will Megarry, Laura O'Flynn, Kevin Rowan, David Smith, Erica Strengbom, Marina Ugarkovi&, and Donna Yates, with the students of the No. i Keros Archaeological Field School

(Danielle Cornacchia, Cara Culkin, Amanda Davis, Will Deacon, Ruthann Dorn, Jessica Hallas-Kilcoyne, Olena Hontscharuk, Rebecca Mullin, Elizabeth Rudsill, Rori Smith, Margaret Sneeringer, and Claire van Nierop), with Lefteris Tsavaris and Evangelia Tsavari as phylakes representing the Ephor, and with Panagiota Sotira- kopoulou and Birgit Konnemann in the apotheke.

The workmen in 200oo7 were Giannis Stratoudakis and Nikolaos Simigdalas from Amorgos, and from Kouphonisi: Konstantinos Tsavaris, Phanis Lesi, Pangaiotis Dole, Zephi Dotsa, Arthouros Lesi, Nikolaos Prege, Nikos Neza, Giannis Markou, Rinaldo Losi, and (briefly) Gaismani Lesi. Stella Roussou again assisted in washing the pottery.

Specialist participants in both 200oo6 and 2007 were Evi Margaritis (water-sieving and flotation), John Dixon (geology and petrology), Yannis Maniatis (marble studies), Jane Renfrew (palaeobotany), Myrto Georga- kopoulou (metallurgy), Jill Hilditch (ceramic petrology), and Tristan Carter (obsidian), and in 200oo7 with Imogen Grundon (survey), Charly French (geomorphology), Tim Kinnaird (geology), and Jenny Doole with Sandra Arazi- Coambs (illustrators).

In addition we are grateful to Christos Agourides of the Institute for Underwater Research for useful comments and for valued assistance in 2oo6 in providing the project with an inflatable craft for communication between Kavos and Dhaskalio, to the Platys family for their hospitality at the Hotel Sorokos and to Captain Kostas Prassinos for taking the excavation crew from Ano Kouphonisi to Keros and back each day with notable promptitude.

FIGS. 1-2 of the present article are taken from Renfrew et al. 2007 and were kindly redrawn by Dora Kemp from originals by Todd Whitelaw. FIGS. 3-6, 16 were drawn by Barry Molloy. FIG. 17 is based on drawings byJorrit Kelder, Will Megarry, and Giorgos Gavalas. The drawings for FIGS. 7-11, 15 were prepared by Sandra Arazi-Coambs, and those for FIGS 12-14 by Jenny Doole. The find

photographs are mainly by Thomas Loughlin.



104 RENFREW ET AL

* 0, DHONOUSA

6Iv

0

.

NAXOS ea

07* ANO152)

KATO KOUPHONISI

*...... . .DHASKALIO..AMORGOS

69 &ANTIKEREIA 0

SCHINOUSA IRAKLIA

cc;!;).. IOSkm

FIG. 1. Map of the Mikres Kyklades showing Dhaskalio and the island of Keros. Filled circles represent early bronze age sites. The location of Dhaskalio island is represented by an open circle.

The wealth of the Early Cycladic fragmentary material recovered in this Special Deposit, and the frustrating lack of any clear context for it, made interpretation difficult. The obvious importance of the site, and the evident settlement remains on Dhaskalio, made this a promising location for more systematic excavation.

During the spring of 200oo6 the Cambridge Keros Project initiated excavations on Kavos, starting with an area to the south of the site (FIG. 3) where the earlier survey had suggested that materials comparable to those of the Special Deposit (further to the north) might be recovered. This immediately proved to be the case, and a rich and concentrated deposit, undisturbed in recent times, was excavated, yielding hundreds of fragments of marble vessels and figurines and abundant pottery of the Keros-Syros culture (Early Cycladic II).2 These 'choice' materials had clearly been deliberately broken.3 Their examination led to the

The terminology for the Early Cycladic culture sequence used here follows that of Renfrew 1972, 135- 221 ; Doumas 1977, 15-27; Broodbank 2oooa, 53-4.-

The term 'choice' used here is deliberately vague (see Renfrew 200oo7b, 430). In the Early Cycladic cemeteries the fine painted wares, the marble vessels and the marble



KEROS: DHASKALIO AND KAVOS, EARLY CYCLADIC STRONGHOLD 105

Konakia Gerani

Dhaskalioe.

0 1 km

FIG. 2. The island of Keros with Dhaskalio at the west.

conclusion, discussed below, that this Special Deposit South was the product of activities of deliberate and structured deposition, in which already fragmentary material was brought to the site from a range of other islands and perhaps also from the mainland of Greece.

During the 200oo7 field season work continued at Kavos, and the examination of the steep and rocky island of Dhaskalio began (FIGS. 16-17; PLATES 3-4). The presence of remains of a small church (FIG. 16; PLATE 4b) had been mentioned by Ross4 and by Doumas;5 they are still clear. Extensive traces of prehistoric walls were evident, and excavation has now revealed several structures, all of EBA date, with several interesting finds.

Dhaskalio island may now be recognized as a major settlement of the Keros-Syros culture. It will be argued below that Kavos, immediately opposite on Keros itself, is confirmed as the locus for two separate areas of structured deposition of 'choice' (or high status) materials, brought from a wide range of sources in the Cyclades and possibly beyond, apparently already in fragmentary condition, and placed there in a series of prestations for which, it is suggested, a ritual context may safely be inferred. Dhaskalio Kavos may now be claimed as the first major symbolic centre of the early Aegean.

figurines occur preferentially in graves which are sometimes considered 'rich' on account of the presence of artefacts of copper or bronze (Renfrew 1974, 42). They are generally held to be 'prestige goods' or 'elite goods', indicative of the high status of their owners. The context at Kavos is very different, and to speak of 'prestige goods' without further argument would be premature.

4 Ross 1843 [1913], 32-3 was the first antiquarian traveller to visit Keros and to mention Dhaskalio, although he did not land at the site. Indeed he was the first scholar to recognize that the ancient 'Keros' could be identified with the island which now has that name (see Marangou 20oo7, 9). 5 Doumas 1964, 409-10.



io6 RENFREW ET AL

I P

Dhaskatio

00

pecial De sit N rth

AC

SAA

avo

pecial e stSout

100 Metres

FIG. 3. The small island of Dhaskalio facing Kavos on Keros. On Dhaskalio, the rectangle indicates the area seen in FIG. 16. Facing, on Kavos, the hatched area represents the Special Deposit North and the shaded area the extent of the 1987 survey. The grid of excavation squares in the Special

Deposit South on Kavos is shown. Trenches AA, AB, and AC are located in the Middle Area.




THE CAMBRIDGE KEROS PROJECT

The first recorded visit to the site of Dhaskalio Kavos (PLATE 1 a) was undertaken by Colin Renfrew on 24 July 1963, in the course of a systematic site survey of prehistoric sites in the Cyclades, authorized by the Ephor, Nikolaos Zapheiropoulos. Before this visit no archaeological sites had been recorded on Keros, although the now-celebrated marble figurines of the harp player and the flautist, now in the National Museum in Athens, were published as 'from Keros',6 and the impressive and nearly life-sized head of a marble figure, now in the Louvre,7 was also reportedly from the island of Keros. There is no reason to associate these finds with the site of Dhaskalio Kavos. Keros is a large island (nearly 4 km in length) and remains archaeologically unexplored other than by brief visits by Photeini Zapheiropoulou during the 196os.8

Renfrew had been informed by Christos Doumas, then working in the Cycladic Ephorate of the Greek Archaeological Service, of reported looting at a site on the west coast of Keros. This first visit yielded abundant finds of pottery, numerous pieces of marble bowls, and several figurine fragments.9 In the same year, limited excavations were carried out by Doumas,"' both at Kavos and on the small island of Dhaskalio, 8o m to the west. These were followed by more extensive work by Photeini Zapheiropoulou on the Special Deposit." Continuing speculation about the nature of the site and the appearance in a private collection and subsequently on the commercial market of the so-called 'Keros hoard"'2 in 1987 led the Ephor, Photeini Zapheiropoulou, to invite Christos Doumas, Lila Marangou, and Colin Renfrew to undertake a limited excavation in the Special Deposit and to conduct a survey of the entire Kavos site (see FIG. 3), which was directed in the field by Todd Whitelaw. The publication of this 1987 project is now available.'3 It concludes that the Special Deposit was in use during the Keros- Syros culture (Early Cycladic II) extending into the time of the Kastri group.'4 The radiocarbon dates now available from Markiani would place this period between c.2800oo and 2300 BC.'5

These early studies amply documented the altogether exceptional importance of the site, which has been the subject of much discussion.'6 The decision was therefore taken to organize a systematic excavation, both to work on the island of Dhaskalio and further to investigate the still enigmatic site of Kavos.

The aims of the Project may be defined in both a narrower and a broader focus. The first was to establish through excavation a much clearer picture of the nature and function of the site of Dhaskalio Kavos, and to investigate the assumed settlement on the island of Dhaskalio. This carried with it the hope that a clearer picture could be established of the nature and function specifically of the Special Deposit at Kavos (now designated Kavos North). This task would involve further examination of the contrasting hypotheses arising from the

6 Athens National Museum nos. 3908, 3910; K6hler 1884, 156-9; Zervos 1957, pls. 302, 333; Renfrew 1972, pl. 27. 1-2; Renfrew 1991, 163 pls. 107-8.

7 Paris, Louvre MA 3095; Zervos 1957, pls. 159-61 ('from Amorgos'); followed by Renfrew 1972, pl. 32. 3; Renfrew 1991, 181 pl. 124. The attribution to Keros was re-established by Marianne Hamiaux quoted by Marangou 1990, 167 n. 33: see Michon 1929.

8 Zapheiropoulou 20oo07b, 32-3; Zapheiropoulou 1967, 466.

SRenfrew 1972, 521; Renfrew 200oo7a. SDoumas 1964. SZapheiropoulou 1968a. Getz-Preziosi 1982; see Sotirakopoulou 2oo6. '3 Renfrew et al. 200oo7. 14 Renfrew 1972, 533-4; Doumas 1977, 22-3;

Sotirakopoulou 1993- 15 Renfrew, Housley, and Manning 2oo6. 16 Fitton 1984; Broodbank 2oooa.



io8 RENFREW ET AL

investigations of 1987-8, which might be rather crudely summarized as: rich but looted cemetery7 versus formal and probably ritual deposition of already fragmentary materials.'8

The broader objective was to explore further the nature of Aegean and particularly Cycladic interactions during the formative time of the 'international spirit' of the middle third millennium BC. These clearly involved commercial intercourse, of the kind lucidly examined by Broodbank,19 but they might also involve contacts of a symbolic, ritual, or religious nature, where Keros, and specifically Kavos, could be functioning as a symbolic attractor rather than (or as well as) a commercial centre.20 Such an objective would require us to deploy all available means of characterizing imports to the site and of otherwise evaluating such interactions.

THE SPECIAL DEPOSIT SOUTH (KAVOS)

The systematic survey of 19872 had clearly delimited the extent of the site on Kavos (FIG. 3), and the excavations then undertaken had been limited to the area at the north of the site, then designated the Special Deposit, with very frequent finds of fragmentary high status Early Cycladic materials. The first activity undertaken in 2oo6 was to re-establish a secure grid with pegs at 1o m intervals, and to extend this to the islet of Dhaskalio. Todd Whitelaw had suggested that special attention should be paid to several grid squares at the south of the site, where just a few marble fragments recovered in 1987 suggested that some further finds resembling those of the Special Deposit might be made there. The area in question was covered with a thick cover of the local maquis vegetation, within which patches of stony ground were visible on a fairly steep slope (PLATE 1 b). Clearance of the vegetation and the opening of several 4 m squares (based upon the new 1o m grid) at once produced very numerous finds of materials very similar to whose which had been recovered in 1987 from the Special Deposit further to the north. The prediction made by Todd Whitelaw on the basis of the 1987 survey was thus dramatically confirmed. Moreover, it at once became clear that this new special deposit, now termed the Special Deposit South, showed no signs of having been disturbed in recent times, or indeed since its original deposition, other than by geomorphological factors operating on a very local scale (see below). The breakages of the fragmentary materials recovered were all old. These materials had been deliberately buried when already systematically broken.

The grid of 4 m squares was extended to cover the main extent of the deposit (FIG. 4; plate 2 a), and the investigation of this area occupied most of the 2oo6 season. Small trenches were opened to investigate some traces of rough walls some 2o m to the north-east. But it took most of the resources of the Project to recover and record the abundant pottery (FIGS. 7-8, PLATE

5) and obsidian and the 'special finds', all recorded in three dimensions, which by the end of 2oo6 included 981 fragments of plain marble bowls, 125 of marble vessels, 116 pieces of vessels of other stones, and fragments of 39 spools ('pestles') of Spondylus shell or stone. The figurine fragments recovered in 2oo6, each of which was photographed in situ (PLATE 6b) as well as recorded in three dimensions, numbered 367-more than those documented from all

17 Whitelaw 2007; Broodbank 2007. 18 Renfrew 200oo7c; Doumas 2007. This is now the view

of the four editors of the publication of the 1987-8 investigations (Renfrew et al. 200oo7).

Broodbank 2oooa. Renfrew 20oo07c. 21 Whitelaw 2007.



160/400

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4. The

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excavation

squares

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the

find

spots

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figurine

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found

during

the

2oo6

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(Shaded

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at that

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unexcavated

or partially

excavated.)




110 RENFREW ET AL

the published Early Cycladic cemeteries put together. Water-sieving was conducted on a 20o% sample of earth from the trenches (see below) and dry-sieving with a 7 mm mesh on the remainder.

THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE EXCAVATION

In order to examine the southern part of the Kavos site, the thick vegetation there (PLATE 1 b) was cleared northwards for some 30 m from the southern edge of the sloping plateau which forms the site, in a zone some 40 m wide from west to east. The grid of 10o m squares originally used for the survey formed the basis for the excavation grid in this area, allowing a layout of 5 m squares within which 4 m squares were excavated. (FIG. 4; PLATES 1 a and 2b). Two- dimensional coordinates were taken east and north from the south-west peg for the square, while the depth of each measured point was taken from an arbitrary datum point established just outside the square. So far as possible each square was dug stratigraphically with unit (layer) numbers for successive strata, but new unit numbers were sometimes assigned arbitrarily if a change seemed desirable for recording purposes. Pottery and obsidian were recovered from each unit. Each find in other categories (e.g. marble bowl fragments) was given a unique special find number and recorded three-dimensionally. Each figurine fragment was also photographed in situ.

Before excavation started in the area, a loose and low heap of rough stones of the local poros limestone, up to 20 cm in diameter, was noted (FIG. 5; PLATE i b). The main concentration of these stones was in squares F3 and D2. Finds of marble figurine and bowl fragments were made already on the surface amongst these stones and within a radius of about 1o m from its approximate centre (peg 210380) at the south-west corner of square Ci. In other squares these stones were absent or less prominent, and the uppermost level was a dark, rather loose layer of organic-rich soil formed from the leaves of the bushes which had grown there. Numerous finds were made in this upper level. Beneath it, and beneath the stones, was a rubbly dark brown matrix with smaller stones (up to 1o cm). This was the principal stratum of the Special Deposit (see FIG. 6; PLATE 2b), with numerous fragments of pottery and of special finds occurring either randomly or in small clumps within it (PLATE 6b). In some cases small clumps or bundles of material suggested that these might have been deposited together. Inspection of the sections suggested that the material was sometimes inserted into small pits up to 2 m in diameter which in 200oo7 were sometimes, with difficulty, also recognized in plan.

To give an impression of the density of finds, all marble figurine fragments found during the 2oo6 excavation season are seen in FIG. 13. Work in 200oo7 extended the distribution somewhat to north and west. In order to test the hypothesis that this concentration of material might be downwash from further up the slope, a 4 m square was opened upslope in square G1, and proved empty of finds. Our conclusion that the Special Deposit was the result of deliberate deposition at this spot was confirmed by the observations of Charles French (see below).

Beneath the dark brown layer with the principal finds was an orange brown silty clay loam, missing in places, which was interpreted as the weathering product of the local limestone. It contained few special finds, and these may have been inserted during the early phase of deposition of the high status materials which characterize the Special Deposit. It also contained a scatter of obsidian blade and flake fragments.




7D3 O 4.-

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FIG. 5. Sketch plan of the cairn of stones in the South Special Deposit at the beginning of the excavation.

The very fragmentary nature of the finds is to be emphasized (PLATE 6a). Every object in the Special Deposit had been deliberately broken (with the exception of just a few small pestles which had escaped destruction). Further thraumatological study will be needed to determine just how the breakage was effected.22 Very few marble artefacts escaped destruction

22 The systematic study of breakages (thraumatology or thrausmatology) in relation to Kavos has been considered

by Renfrew 2007b. The field (see e.g. Rehak 1994; Chapman 200ooo) is a much wider one.



112 RENFREW ET AL

209.50,379.50

205,379.50

,\*. \N.77

, //

FIG. 6. Sketch of the north section of square F3, showing patches of the lower terra rossa soil (layer 5), the layer containing the special deposit (layer 4), and the superficial stones seen in some excavation squares.

into at least four pieces. Some of the limestone pestles seem to have been sawn into two pieces. And the saw may have been used to segment some of the larger marble figurines (which were always broken into several pieces).

Some fragments were found with their surfaces and breaks in almost pristine condition. Others had been subjected to very heavy weathering. The good control as to context allowed the observation that pieces found in juxtaposition showed very different degrees of weathering, which suggests that the weathering had occurred prior to deposition in this Special Deposit.

The other important observation is that, with just a few exceptions, no joining together of pieces found in the Special Deposit South could be effected. And while to attempt to confirm this systematically with the hundreds of marble bowl fragments found will be a taxing task, it was much more readily tested using the figurine fragments. These can readily be sorted by size, by variety, and by body part, so thatjoins would be much more readily recognized if they were available. So far, although the study is not complete, only one figurine join-two parts of the same head, found in close proximity (PLATE 8.2)-has been found within the Special Deposit South.

RECOVERY PROCEDURES (BY EVI MARGARITIS)

For the Special Deposit South the discovery of fragmented figurines, marble vessels, and spools (or 'pestles') raised the question whether they were broken in situ or were transferred in an already fragmented state to the area of deposition. To investigate this question, water- sieving was extensively applied as an archaeological technique, in order to retrieve archaeological small finds, such as beads and human remains (and, in particular, teeth), that might be used in an argument to substantiate an interpretation of the site as a cemetery.

One out of every five zembils (baskets) from each trench was processed in the sea by water- sieving with a mesh size of 3 mm. Archaeological finds included figurine fragments, marble and stone vessel fragments, pottery fragments, obsidian blades and smaller chips, and a single bead. Organic remains included shells, snails, and animal and/or bird bones. A high accumulation of human remains, including teeth and other bone parts, came at Kavos exclusively from trench Ai, which is not however part of the Special Deposit.




With the implementation of water-sieving, we were able:

(i) to retrieve minute archaeological remains (such as a bead) and even the smallest fragments of marble figurines or vessels; such finds would probably have been missed by conventional dry-sieving using a 7-8 mm mesh size;

(ii) to recover a range of organic remains, such as human bones and teeth, many of which would otherwise have been missed; it was thus possible to define an accumulation of human remains in trench Ai and to exclude any possibility of their presence in the area of the Special Deposit.

(iii) to exclude the possibility of 'marble chips' (i.e. tiny marble fragments, expected in the case of in situ fragmentation) escaping recognition during excavation. These fragments of 'unworked' appearance, had they been present, would not easily have been recognized, if recovery procedures had been restricted to the dry-sieving of all sediments. Although water- sieving made their identification possible, such fragments were not recognized.

In addition to water-sieving, flotation was also used as an excavation procedure to reveal charred archaeobotanical material (charcoal, seeds) and other types of organic remains, such as small bones (human, animal, and fish) and shells. At Kavos, soil samples were taken from deeper-lying layers rather than surface contexts to avoid possible contamination, with at least one sample per ten zembils taken from each layer. Floated material was retained in a 3oo p geological sieve and a 1 mm mesh was used for the heavy residues. From the outset, the non- domestic character of the site and the absence of features and visible areas with charcoal rendered it unlikely that seeds would be recovered. Only three small pieces of charcoal were encountered in three samples. Unfortunately no seeds were recovered.

The flotation results support the observation that no burning episodes are manifested within the excavated area, that no burnt material was transferred there from elsewhere, and that organic remains were not present in any significant quantity at the Special Deposit.

By contrast, however, the first soil samples taken from Dhaskalio presented a different picture, even at an early stage of sampling and processing. These samples, taken from a floor layer in Trench III, revealed archaeobotanical remains together with animal and fish bones, suggesting the domestic character of the context. The first macroscopic examination indicated that the archaeobotanical remains include nut shells and pulses but their accurate identification requires further analysis.

DEPOSITION PROCESS: THE GEOMORPHOLOGICAL PICTURE (BY CHARLES FRENCH).

The open sections visible in May 2007 in excavation squares B3, B4, and D i-3 of the Special Deposit South revealed the following sediment sequence and characteristics indicative of a number of possible formation processes at work. The stratigraphic sequence was best expressed beneath the linear area of large stone rubble, especially across squares B3 and B4.

The base of the profile is characterized by the occasional presence of the base of a palaeosol. It is a thin (<12 cm) and discontinuous orangey brown silty clay loam with abundant clay enrichment and amorphous iron oxides. This is indicative of a remnant survival of a terra rossa-like or Mediterranean soil which would commonly have developed on the limestone bedrock here, just as found in many parts of Greece and the Mediterranean area.23

23 Bridges 1978, 69-70; Zangger 1992; French and Whitelaw 1995-



114 RENFREW ET AL

The absence of a full terra rossa profile suggests that there has been severe erosion of this palaeosol profile in the recent past resulting in only pockets of partial survival, presumably as a result of devegetation and exploitation linked to previous but as yet undated human activities.

Above this palaeosol remnant was a relatively thick (c.2o-5o cm) horizon of greyish brown silty (clay) loam with a strong amorphous organic content and very abundant stone rubble inclusions, ranging in size from 1 to i o cm. This horizon equates with the Special Deposit horizon. The rubble component displayed a consistent range of orientations from 45' to 5o0' to near vertical giving it an imbricated appearance. Only occasionally were there short runs (<50 cm) of small stones with an approximate horizontal orientation as 'stringers'. This would suggest that this horizon is composed of localized hillwash erosion of former topsoils and bedrock derived stone rubble. It is notable that this accumulation thickens south- westwards as the slope lessens, especially beneath the area of stone rubble. There is every indication that this slopewash material has accumulated episodically or intermittently between periods of relative stability, and that it is derived from very short distances upslope of at most 10-15 m, probably over small spatial areas of a few metres in extent. Interestingly, groupings or clusters of artefacts discovered during excavation, including broken parts of figurines, suggest that in practice, hillwash disturbance of this slope area has been relatively minimal and localized.

Moreover, a large shallow pit of c. 1.7 m in diameter and <6o cm in depth was observed to be well defined in the northern corner of squares B3/4; it contained EBA artefacts contemporary with those of the Special Deposit horizon, and also discontinuous lenses of fine limestone pebbles and orangey-brown silty clays similar to the terra rossa-like palaeosol. This indicates that the pit has been backfilled with the same material into which it was dug. Moreover this pit has a very well defined upper surface, some 5-12 cm below the basal surface of the overlying stone rubble. Together these features suggest that this slope has seen some areas of considerable surface stability, as well as the repeated excavation and backfilling of pits in the past, thus reworking the same Special Deposit material. In addition, the whole soil profile is severely bioturbated, which would have helped to obscure the presence of other cut features in the Special Deposit, especially as the fill would essentially be of the same material.

The uppermost part of the profile consists of a thin (<12 cm) and discontinuous dark brown silty clay loam in small, irregular aggregates. This appears to be indicative of organic topsoil, essentially similar to the organic accumulation found around the shrub vegetation that is present on this slope today.

THE POTTERY (BY PANAGIOTA SOTIRAKOPOULOU)

The excavations at the Special Deposit of Kavos South yielded a large amount of pottery (about 25,000 sherds). Most of the sherds are very small (usually 2 x 2.5 cm), and only in a few cases and in the pottery from the deeper layers do they exceed 6 x 7 or 8 x 4 cm in size. The preservation of the sherds is generally poor, their surface being very weathered, so that in many cases the painted decoration has flaked off and the incised or impressed decoration is barely visible.

Most sherds are of EBA date, but a small yet indicative number of much later sherds (probably of late Classical or Roman or even Byzantine times) was located in some trenches (Bi, B3, Ci, E2). The later sherds were generally found in the upper layers. The breakages




are in almost all cases old (ancient) and only rarely do the fragments of this Early Cycladic pottery join.

Most of the sherds, about 75% of the total, are non-diagnostic as to the shape of the vessel. The remaining sherds are mainly of well-known forms that may readily be recognized. The diagnostic sherds are dominated by sauceboat fragments and also by conical-necked jars (krateriskoi) of various types, as already noted in the excavations conducted in the Special Deposit North in the 1i96os and in 1987. The sauceboat is the most popular shape (FIGS. 7.1- 5, 9-4; PLATE 5a), amounting to about 48% of the total diagnostic sherds. It is generally represented by small fragments of rims, spouts, handles, pedestals, and various body parts. There are also five animal-head protomes (FIG. 7.5) in the form of a ram or bull from sauceboat spouts, similar to those known from the north-east Peloponnese and thought probably to have been imported from that area.24

The krateriskoi amount to 25% of the diagnostic sherds. Half of these belong to the pedestalled variety with incised decoration on the neck and shoulder (FIGS. 7.11, 9-7). The more rare variety of pedestalled krateriskoi with stamped and incised decoration of spirals and impressed triangles (Kerbschnitt), thought to have been imported from Syros, is also present (FIGS. 7.6-10, 9.6), though in a comparatively very small amount (about 3% of the total krateriskoi).

Far behind the two most common shapes follow the storage jars of various types, amounting to 8.5% of the total diagnostic pottery, the funnel-necked and concave- or cylindrical-necked varieties being predominant. The smaller vessels, which are typologically similar to the larger storage vessels, though evidently not for the same use, have also been classed in this category.

Other identifiable shapes, such as jugs, multiple lamps (FIGS. 8.3, 9.1; PLATE 5b), bowls/saucers, pyxides, deep open jars/cooking pots, and basins are seen in quantities of less than 5%. However the number of 47 specimens of multiple lamps located so far is amazing, in view of the extreme rarity of the type.

The fourteen talc ware sherds noted are particularly worthy of mention, indicating the connection of Kavos with the western Cyclades, in particular Siphnos, suggested as a possible source of this ware.25 Also notable are two specimens of the one-handled tankard of the 'Kastri group' (FIGS. 8.4, 9.2), two pan/hearth fragments, and a single example of the so-called 'mask' (brazier).26 The various vessel types occur throughout the deposit with no observed variation with depth.

Decoration is comparatively rare, found on only about a quarter of the diagnostic sherds. Incised decoration is the most usual, found mainly on pedestalled conical-necked jars, on the horizontal arched handles of pithoid vessels, and on jugs, pyxides, and multiple lamps. Painted dark-on-light decoration is the second most usual type, found as a rule (although in a bad state of preservation) on sauceboats (FIG. 7.2, 4) and on the rare examples ofjugs (FIGS. 8.1-2, 9-3) and pyxides. Stamped and incised decoration follows, mainly found on conical- necked jars of the Syros type (FIG. 7.6-1o) and on the 'multiple lamps'. Relief rope pattern decoration occurs on some specimens of pithoid jars. There are also a few pieces of jars or jugs of fine grey clay, black coated surface and decoration of vertical ribs, considered to be

24 Zygouries: Blegen 1928, nos. 260, 252, pl. X.i--2; Tiryns: Miller 1938, pl. v.1-5; see Doumas, 200oo7.

25 Vaughan and Wilson 1993, 169, 173.

26 Marangou et al. 2oo6, 137, FIG. 7.15; 154, FIG. 7.25; pls. 34, 37-



116 RENFREW ET AL

2 1

3 4

5

I I \

6 7 8 9 I

I 101 LLLJIEZ 11

FIG. 7. Pottery from the Special Deposit South at Kavos, including sauceboats (1 to 5), and collared jars (krateriskoi) with stamped and incised decoration (6 to 11). Scale 1 : 2.




SI 2

3

5

6

7

LLZL.E.-.:. .........""K

FIG. 8. Painted sherds (1 and 2), fragment of multiple lamp (3) and sherd of one-handled tankard (4) from the Special Deposit South at Kavos, with three sherds from Trenches I and

II on Dhaskalio: pithoid jar (5), sauceboat (6) and necklessjar (7). Scale 1 : 2.



118 RENFREW ET AL

1W23304

6 7

5e t8

FIG. 9. Sketches of the principal ceramic vessel forms seen in the Special Deposit South, also represented in FIG. 8 (1, multiple lamp; 2, tankard; 3,jug; 4, sauceboat; 5, pithoidjar; 6 and 7,

collared jar; 8, neckless jar).

contemporaneous with the typical 'Kastri group' shapes. The black Urfirnis fragments are relatively rare and as a rule belong to sauceboats. Five potsherds preserve parts of potter's marks and eighteen bases of closed coarse vessels had mat or cloth impressions.

In terms of percentages both of shapes and of type of decoration, the impression so far given by the pottery from the Kavos Special Deposit South is not generally different from that of the pottery from the Special Deposit North,27 the only exception being that in the pottery from the excavations there during the 1i96os, the prevailing type of decoration was the painted dark-on-light, followed by the incised.

27 Broodbank 2ooob; Broodbank 2007; Sotirakopoulou

2004.




As to the character of the pottery, the majority of the diagnostic sherds (about 52%) consists of types equally known from settlements and cemeteries (i.e. sauceboats and jugs) and therefore of both domestic and funerary use. A much smaller percentage (about 27%) includes types known mainly from graves and only sporadically from settlements (i.e. krateriskoi, pyxides, and multiple lamps). Only a very small proportion (about 9%) is of domestic ware, known mainly from settlements, i.e. storage jars and deep open jars/cooking pots (FIG. 9).

On present evidence then, the pottery from the Kavos Special Deposit South seems to date within the broader period designated as Early Cycladic II or 'Keros-Syros culture'. However, the two tankard fragments and the few black-coated fragments with vertical ribbed decoration suggest continuity into the transitional EC II-III 'Kastri phase'.28

MARBLE PLAIN BOWLS AND OTHER STONE VESSELS

The most frequent finds in the Special Deposit South, after the pottery, were the much- fragmented remains of stone vessels. Most were of marble, and they include most of the forms known from the Early Cycladic cemeteries of the time. The most common type, more than 70% of the total, is the marble plain bowl, i.e. a shallow bowl with thickened rim (FIGS. 10.1-

4, 1 1.1). These varied greatly in size, most being between 28 to 32 cm in diameter. But some are much larger, in several cases exceeding 35 cm in diameter (FIG. 10.1-2). These are larger than any found in the Early Cycladic cemeteries, where the largest recorded example has a diameter of 31 cm.29 Other variations of the plain bowl form, for instance with a straight (rather than thickened) rim, noted by Devetzi from the finds made in the Special Deposit North in 1967,30 are also frequent.

Other types recovered include deep bowls with lugs (FIG. 10.5, 11.2), bowls with ledge lugs (FIGS. io.6, 11.3), small cups (FIGS. 10.7, 1 1.4), and forms with pedestal, mainly footed cups (FIG. 10.13-14, 1 1.5). There are also flat-based forms, including trays or palettes of various sizes (FIGS. io.8, 1 1.6), and pyxides (mainly the spool pyxis type: FIGS. 10.10, 1 1.7-9).

Vessels of grey marble occur in smaller numbers, including footed cups, small cups, and pyxides with hatlike lid. Vessels of pale or reddish limestone are quite common (about lo% of the total), mainly deep bowls with flat rim (FIG. o10.16-17, 11.12). They are not found in Cycladic cemeteries: the material may derive from Kouphonisi, where such material has been noted by the excavation geologist, Dr John Dixon. Steatite vessels are seen, mainly in closed forms, notably the spherical pyxis (FIG. 10.12, 1 1.10o). A corner of a square table of steatite seems to represent a hitherto unrecorded form (FIGS. 10.15, 1 1.1 1). There are also a few fragments of vessels of chlorite schist.

All are preserved in very fragmentary condition and were, without exception, broken in ancient times. In general the vessels from the Special Deposit South show the same range of forms as those from the Special Deposit North,31 although they seem more weathered and broken into smaller pieces. It is clear from the fragments of rarer forms that there are few joins, and that the vessels could not have been broken on the spot. Some of the pieces bear traces of sawing.

28 Sotirakopoulou 1993- 29 Getz-Gentle 1996, 1i0o1.

3() Devetzi 1992, 35, 61. Gavalas, 2007.



120 RENFREW ET AL

r= 20 r= 20 r= 16 r= 11

3 4

2 17

6 5

-/7

/

/

8

9 10

12 13 14

15 % 161

FIG. 10. Plain bowls (1 to 4), and other vessels of marble, of limestone (16, 17) and of steatite (12, 15) from the Special Deposit South. Scale 2 : 3-




THE FIGURINES

The figurines from the Special Deposit South form a remarkable, if fragmentary, assemblage, each piece with well-documented context. They fall into two classes: folded-arm figurines (FAF) of canonical type, and schematic figurines of the Apeiranthos type, already recognized as falling also within the timespan of the Keros-Syros culture.32 No figurine forms of the Grotta-Pelos culture (such as the Plastiras type) were recovered. The figurine evidence thus harmonizes well with the chronological conclusions drawn from the pottery. Indeed it can go one step further. Since 1969 it has been recognized that the folded-arm figurines may be divided into a number of principal forms or varieties,33 which may themselves be further divided into further taxonomic clusters or subvarieties.34 It had been supposed on typological grounds that the Kapsala variety might be early in the development of the FAF and the Chalandriani variety late, with the Spedos variety occupying a chronologically intermediate position. It is notable, therefore that no canonical figures of the Kapsala variety were found. The Spedos variety was the most numerous, followed by the Chalandriani variety, with a few pieces assignable to the Dokathismata variety. (Naturally none was found of the Koumasa variety, a form found only in Crete). A plausible explanation for the absence of figurines of the Kapsala variety (save for one exceptional male figurine: FIG. 12.1; PLATE 8.1) is that deposition processes in the Special Deposit began some time after the inception of the Keros- Syros culture, by which point the Kapsala variety of FAF had already been superseded by the Spedos variety.

A selection of the figurine fragments recovered in 2007 is seen in FIGS. 12 and 13. First among them is the torso of the only male figure recovered (FIG. 12.1) whose slender form and plasticity of modelling suggests the Kapsala variety. The only comparable torsos known come from the special group of musicians (and seated figures), in particular the flautist type, of which the only example with some record of provenance comes from Keros (but presumably not from Kavos).35

A fairly large head (FIG. 12.3) of the Spedos variety lies at the upper end of the size range, being one of the few excavated pieces of good provenance to show indications of the 'paint ghosts' first noted by Getz-Preziosi.36 Other heads are seen in PLATE 7, of the Spedos, Dokathismata, and Chalandriani varieties. And a curious head, exceptionally in limestone (PLATE 7.4) of what has been termed the 'post-canonical' variety. The Chalandriani variety is well represented by a number of pieces, including a torso (FIG. 12.2) whose surface is particularly well preserved, with little trace of erosion or damage through prolonged burial. By contrast there are many fragments, usually of the Spedos variety, so much eroded or weathered (e.g. FIG. 13.1) that very little of the original surface is preserved. They are identifiable as figurine fragments only by the surviving traces of salient sculptural features, such as the modelling of the legs.

In most cases it is possible to estimate the size of the original figurine even when only a fragment is preserved since the proportions of the different varieties of the FAM are very regular. Some exceptionally small figurines of the Chalandriani variety (e.g. FIG. 13.6) have been recovered.

32 Renfrew 1969. 33 Ibid. 34 Getz-Preziosi 1987.

35 K6hler 1884; see above, n. 6. 36 Getz-Preziosi 1987, 53.



122 RENFREW ET AL

57 3

9 10812

9 10 11 1

FIG. 1 1. Sketches of the complete stone vessel forms represented in FIG. 10 (Marble: 1, shallow bowl with thickened rim; 2, deep bowl with lug; 3, bowl with ledge lugs; 4, small cup; 5, footed cup; 6, palette; 7, spool pyxis; 8 and 9, cylindrical pyxis. Steatite: lo, spherical pyxis; 1 1, rectangular table.

Limestone: 12, bowl with flat rim).

One exceptional find is the pelvic area of a FAF of Spedos variety measuring 17 cm across the maximum width of the thighs as they widen below the waist (FIG. 14). Comparison with complete figures in the National Museum in Athens and elsewhere suggests that, when complete, this figure must have exceeded 1 m in height. It is thus the largest Cycladic figure to have come from a well-documented context. It is a find of importance for the understanding of these exceptionally large figures. And of course it finally places beyond doubt the validity of this class of figure.

The extent of the breakage of the folded-arm figurines is very striking. On one tiny fragment, a surviving breast is all that remains of the original form (FIG. 13.2). Another fragment (PLATE 8.4) preserves the waist, recognizable only through the graceful and regular proportions. The method by which these figurines were dismembered requires further study. Considerable effort must have been expended in the process, and it is possibly that some pieces, like some of the spools (see below) may have been separated by sawing.

The schematic figurines of Apeiranthos type sometimes have rectangular bodies (e.g. FIG. 13-5). In other cases the body tapers towards the feet (FIG. 13.4). The heads (e.g. FIG. 13.3) lack the prominent nose of the FAF type.

It should be emphasized that only a single join has been recognized among the figurine fragments from the Special Deposit South (PLATE 8.2). In many cases the characteristic size and variety of pieces would quite readily allow joining pieces to be identified if they were




1

2

I

KAV

:A54

. . .t

-: ::. . .

. .-:a a:.

a WILE

FIG. 12. Figurine fragments from the Special Deposit South. Scale 2 : 3



124 RENFREW ET AL

present. The conclusion seems inescapable that they were not broken on the spot and the pieces discarded at the point of breakage. Had this been the case, numerous joins were to be anticipated. It is likely in such a case that numerous small fragments of marble would have been recovered in the water-sieve. Few were.

SPOOLS AND OTHER FINDS

Fragments of obsidian, mainly of blades, were of frequent occurrence in most levels of the Special Deposit South: 1,470 pieces were recovered in the 2oo6 season, as against some 25,000 potsherds and 1,1ioo special finds of marble. The obsidian industry is under study by Marina Milic and Tristan Carter. The material is of Melian origin, and the assemblage is biased towards end-products with fine unipolar pressure-flaked blades. There is considerable fragmentation with no complete blades preserved.

Beyond these, the range of finds was interestingly small. The stone vessels have already been mentioned. There was a single find of metal: a lead pin. This is a feature of some significance in view of the rich metal finds from some of the Early Cycladic cemeteries of the period. Only a single bead was found. The systematic sieving and water-sieving guarantees the validity of these observations. One further category, however, seems of special significance: the spools' or 'pestles'. These are small cylindrical objects of stone or shell, the sides slightly concave, the flat ends lightly convex (FIG. 15). They are all made of rather special materials, either shell (not much used in the Cyclades for other purposes) or selected stones,37 some of them coloured. This may make all the more plausible the interesting suggestion of Rahmstorf that they were made to serve as balance weights.38 (The dots on one end of FIG. 15.12 should also be noted.) Like other categories of find, they had been systematically broken. Some indeed seem to have been deliberately sawn in half, but a few, perhaps in view of their small size, escaped the usual damage. During the 2oo6 season, 43 spool fragments had been found, none of them joining, of which 16 were made from the marine shell Spondylus gaederopus (FIG.

15.1-5). Others were made of attractive coloured stones (FIG. 15.6-1o), sometimes of travertine, in some cases carefully chosen for the natural banding in the stone. The presence of these pestles in the Special Deposit is clearly of significance, as indeed is the absence of metal objects.

The only other numerically significant class of find, apart from many unworked pebbles which are presumably manuports, is a series of flat discs of marble or schist, between 2o and 50 cm in diameter. These were usually found broken, but in much less damaged condition than the other finds, and in this case the breakage may not have been deliberate.

DISCUSSION

It is too early yet to offer a firm and definitive interpretation for the Special Deposit South. This must await the investigation planned for 2oo8 of surrounding areas, and the full study of the finds. This will include consideration of marble provenance by Professor Yannis Maniatis, and also of the methods of breakage used. The study of ceramic petrology by Jill Hilditch should also prove informative about the sources of the pottery found. So far, however, our findings serve to confirm those offered for the Special Deposit North by the directors of the

37 One example from Markiani in Amorgos (Marangou et al. 2oo6, 177 no. 395 and pl. 41 a) is of yellow limestone with conspicuous fossil inclusions.

38 Rahmstorf 2003.




2

7i >

4

7-..

EIEIJIDII FIG. 13. Figurine fragments from the Special Deposit South. Scale 2 : 3-



126 RENFREW ET AL

I I .. ....

FIG. 14. Pelvis of a very large folded-arm figurine of Spedos variety. Scale 1 : 6.

1987 survey and excavation.39 There the view they had earlier expressed40 that the site might represent a rich but looted cemetery was reconsidered in some detail, along with the arguments in that sense which have more recently been put forward, notably by Broodbank and by Whitelaw.41 For it was recognized that the breakages are ancient, and that, even on the evidence from the Special Deposit North, taken in isolation, there are strong arguments against regarding it as a looted and damaged cemetery. The discovery of the Special Deposit South, undisturbed in recent times, confirms and strengthens that view. The use of water- sieving confirms that there were no human remains-not a single tooth-in the deposit. It is beyond doubt that the breakages there were ancient ones. Moreover, it is now clear that these pieces were not broken in situ. More extensive discussion of the data and of their implications must await a more lengthy report. However, no central locus for such breakage has yet been recognized on Keros. In the absence of such evidence, it may be inferred that the materials forming the Special Deposit South (and probably the original Special Deposit North also) were brought from elsewhere. There is already clear evidence that the pottery was brought from a number of other islands. The abundant sherds with a filler of blue schist may come from Amorgos. Syros is likely for the stamped and incised decorated pottery; Siphnos is a likely source for the talc ware. Kouphonisi itself may be a possibility for the multiple lamp vessels, and certainly is a likely source for the stone vessels and spools made of the orange-pink limestone found on Kouphonisi (although perhaps elsewhere also). The suggestion that the animal protomes decorating some of the sauceboats may have come from Corinthia or the Argolid (see above) indicates a larger area of capture if Kavos be regarded as a 'symbolic attractor'.42

But several problems remain. If the material which forms the Special Deposits was brought

39 See Renfrew et al. 2007, especially Renfrew 2007c. 4o See Renfrew et al. 200oo7, 17-38.

41 Broodbank 2oooa, 223-36; Whitelaw 2007.




. . . 4 5 233

6 7

8 -

- w

10

12m

12

FIG. 15. Spools ('pestles') of Spondylus (i to 5) and stone (6 to io) from the Special Deposit South, and of stone (11) and lead (12) from Dhaskalio. Scale 2 : 3.



128 RENFREW ET AL

already in fragmentary form, why has comparable material, the residue from such breakage, not yet been recognized on other islands? Moreover the presence of very large plain bowls (in much fragmented form) in the Special Deposit certainly requires further explanation, since Kavos is the only site in the Cyclades from which such bowls are documented. It may be, when the study of the settlement on Dhaskalio has progressed further, that fresh insights will be gained from the comparison of the two bodies of material recovered.

THE SETTLEMENT ON DHASKALIO

Dhaskalio is a steep and rocky islet, some 200oo m long, and rises to a height of 38 m above sea level (PLATE 1 a). At first sight it seems an unexpected location for a major settlement of the Early Cycladic period. The topography makes terracing desirable for building construction, and this is evident at several places with walls making use also of outcrops of bedrock (PLATE 3a) whose configuration could also offer defensive advantages. It is also possible that the narrow strait of some 8o m between Dhaskalio and Kavos may have been united by a spit of land in EBA times, thus forming a convenient harbour to north and south. This possibility is being investigated by John Dixon and Tim Kinnaird. The summit area constitutes a small plateau some 15 min wide, running north-south for a distance of 5o m. Some 2o m from its southern end the remains are still seen in plan of a small medieval or later church, 7 m in length (FIG. 16, marked M). Its ground plan was revealed in trial trenches by Doumas in 1963.4o

Until this year only one room of the prehistoric settlement had been excavated, marked F on FIG. 16, which had walls preserved to a height of 1.25 m.44 On the west side a previously undocumented trench, presumably opened by a looter since 1963, indicates a well-preserved room, later incorporated within our Trench III.

The basic survey grid for Dhaskalio was established in 2oo6 by Joseph Severn, and systematic sherd collection was carried out for some areas in that year. In 200oo7 the upper part of the site, including most of the area above the 30 m contour, was first cleared of maquis vegetation. The first trenches were set out across the most obvious wall, which is seen to run north-south for a distance of some 30 m, on the eastern slope of the island (facing Kavos). These were Trench I, east and outside of the wall, and Trench II, west and inside (see FIG. 17; PLATE 4a). Trench I revealed that in front of this wall, of large limestone boulders of local origin, a well-built wall in drystone technique was constructed. This was built of thin laminar pieces of marble, which is not available locally on Dhaskalio nor indeed at Kavos.

Examination of the geology of Dhaskalio island soon led to the remarkable conclusion that the greater part of the building stone used on Dhaskalio, other than these boulders of conglomerate limestone, could not be of local origin, a point soon confirmed by our consultant petrologistJohn Dixon. Nor were suitable outcrops observed elsewhere on Keros, nor on Kouphonisi. Survey by Maniatis on Keros and neighbouring islands suggests that much of the building stone used on Dhaskalio during the EBA was brought from readily available outcrops on south-east Naxos. This must represent the shipment of unexpectedly large quantities of building material over considerable distances. It is indeed one of the most

1' Renfrew 2007c. 43 Doumas 1964.

44 Ibid.




I4

FIG. 16. The central summit area of Dhaskalio (see FIG. 3) indicating the excavation trenches, the outline plan of the small mediaeval church (M) and the house previously excavated by Doumas (F).



130 RENFREW ET AL

I _

~ iiWalliB

TRENCHTRENCH a( iii: a a .......... ..... W-a I .. .... ..... ............... . .......... .. ..... ..... .. ... ... ..

...........

....... ....o........ ........ ........ ...... ...................... ..............

...e .......

FIG. 17. Sketch plan of trenches I and II on Dhaskalio, separated by the substantial terrace (or perhaps fortification) wall (Wall A).

surprising results of the excavation, and its broader significance needs to be considered further.

Trench II, inside the wall, revealed a series of EBA constructions of at least two phases. The finds appear domestic in character. They include pithoid jars (FIG. 8.5, 9-5) and necklessjars with the characteristic horizontal arched handle (FIG. 8.7, 9.8), and numerous stone discs, mainly of marble or schist..




The strong north winds that blew periodically during the 200oo7 excavation season sometimes made excavation difficult on the east slope. It was then convenient to work on the more sheltered western slope, where Trenches IV and V were opened, adjacent to Trench III.

At the north end of the summit there is a prominent curved wall, and Trench VI was opened a couple of metres west of this point. One early find of considerable interest was a lead 'spool' (FIG. 15.1 1), comparable in form to those recovered from the special deposits. The use of lead for this object offers some confirmation for Rahmstorf's theory that these 'spools' were indeed weights, part of a system of mensuration of considerable sophistication.45 Two complete figurines of Apeiranthos type were found in the same area.

The relatively flat area to the south of the church, between it and the steep escarpment to the south, seemed a promising place for further investigations, since traces of several walls were evident at the surface. Trench VII was opened here (PLATE 4b), revealing a rectangular building some 8 m long (with the main axis running east-west) whose western wall is overlain by some walling of later date. The buildings so far examined yield much pottery and other finds of a domestic character, including querns and grinders and numerous stone discs of schist or marble ranging from o10 to 50 cm in diameter.

During the 200oo7 season further areas at the summit were cleared of vegetation and of underlying soil to reveal indications of walls and structures which will be examined further during the 200oo8 excavation season.

OTHER AREAS AND ACTIVITIES

Between the original special deposits on Kavos, now designated Special Deposit North and Special Deposit South, lies a tract of land some i oo m in length, most of it originally covered in thick maquis vegetation. Looters' trenches and the clearance of vegetation have revealed some stretches of walls, or at least wall foundations, made of rough irregular lumps of the local limestone up to 50 cm in length One trench, Trench L, was opened in 2oo6 to investigate these, and three (trenches AA, AB, and AC: see FIG. 3) in 2007. Associated finds are few, but sufficient EBA sherds were found associated with the wall in trench AB, with the absence of later material, to establish the date of the walling. The nature of these structures in the Middle Area remains to be further investigated. At present the area lying between the two special deposits shows few indications of structures beyond the building near the sea investigated in 1963 by Doumas46 and indicated by D on FIG. 3.

Immediately to the south of the Special Deposit South is a small escarpment of about 2 m, running east-west, evidently caused by faulting. Immediately to the south, that is to say 2 m below the level of the Special Deposit, is a surface giving access to a series of crevices in the small escarpment. Trench Ai was opened in this area, yielding some stratified levels of EBA date with disturbed human remains (kindly studied by loanna Moutafi). No complete burials were found, but it seems likely that this area was used for some burials in EBA, although probably not on any large scale. It is hoped to investigate the area further during the planned 20o8 excavation season.

Other activities in 2007 included the investigation by Morag Kersel and Tim Kinnaird of the system of rock fissures ('caves') to the east of the site, caused by faulting.47 In the course

45 Rahmstorf 2003. 46 Doumas 1964, fig-. 1-

47 Bassiakos and Doumas 1998.



132 RENFREW ET AL

of limited soundings, no indications of use during prehistoric times were found, and the relative difficulty of access makes it questionable whether they were systematically visited then.

To the north of the Special Deposit North is a flat promontory, designated 'Kavos Promontory' and indicated by P on FIG. 3. Samples were taken from there in 1987 and in 2oo6 by Myrto Georgakopoulou for metallurgical analysis.48 Her study of the finds from the surface survey carried out at Kavos in 1987 was informative. She notes that the small collection of metallurgical remains was:

primarily copper slags, but also metallurgical ceramics, lead and copper metal fragments and a single litharge specimen. Analytical examination of selected samples had brought forward evidence for two distinct copper production processes on the site resulting in two different products: unalloyed copper and arsenical copper with lead, nickel and low quantities of other base metals. In addition, the identification of a single litharge-impregnated hearth lining fragment raised the possibility that cupellation, the separation of silver from silver-rich lead metal, was also carried out. Based on the spatial distribution of the finds recovered form the 1987 survey it was suggested that metallurgical remains were far more abundant at the Kavos Promontory. This particular area had been less intensively sampled than the remaining Kavos site.

For this reason and in order to examine the spatial distribution of metallurgical remains within the Kavos Promontory itself, as well as to collect additional material for analysis, further surface collection was carried out at the Kavos Promontory during the 2oo6 season. A total of thirty-nine 1o x 10o m squares was laid out and sampled. The concentration of metallurgical finds clearly increases towards the north edge of the promontory. Samples were collected and are currently undergoing analytical examination aiming to address further specific questions.

Several small trenches were opened at Kavos Promontory during the 2007 field season to secure better dating evidence, and several fragments of metallurgical ceramics were selected by Georgakopoulou for TL dating.

The geological history of the Kavos area was investigated byJohn Dixon and Tim Kinnaird to clarify various questions including that of area level change. The question of the sources of high quality, fine-grained white marble used for the manufacture of marble bowls and figurines, and of the marbles and schists used as building materials on Dhaskalio (and near the Doumas House on Kavos), was investigated by Yannis Maniatis with Dimitris Tambakopoulos.

PROSPECT

It is planned that the excavation of the Special Deposit South will be concluded in the 2oo8 excavation season. Study of the considerable quantities of fragmentary material recovered will take some time. But already some of the main lines of investigation are emerging. In future work there will be some emphasis upon characterization studies, in order to evaluate how much of this 'choice' material was being brought to Keros from other Cycladic islands and perhaps beyond. It is hoped that further investigation on Dhaskalio island may serve to indicate also whether the settlement there was a commercial centre of importance, attracting such exotic materials to a major economic node among Cycladic trading networks, or was in effect bypassed by visitors travelling directly to the special deposits on Kavos to deposit their ritual offerings.

4- Georgakopoulou 2007.




TABLE OF STRATIGRAPHIC CONTEXTS

FIG. 7.1 Coo 15 Ci1 L 14 Sauceboat spout 2 Cooo5 Ci L 25 Painted sauceboat spout 3 Coo 14 C 1 L 14 Sauceboat spout 4 Coo 19 Ci L 18 Painted sauceboat pedestal 5 Coo42 B 1 L 4 Animal-head protome from a sauceboat spout 6 Coool B3 L 1 Krateriskos with stamped-and-incised decoration 7 Coo13 Ci L 25 Krateriskos with stamped-and-incised decoration 8 Cooi2 Ci L 25 Krateriskos with stamped-and-incised decoration 9 Coo38 D3 L 4 Krateriskos with stamped-and-incised decoration o10 Cooo9 D2 L 1 Krateriskos with stamped-and-incised decoration

11 Coo28 Bi L 3 Krateriskos with incised decoration FIG. 8.1 Coo17 Ci L 23 Neck of painted jug

2 Coo18 Ci L 23 Inset base and lower body of painted jug 3 Coo25 Bi L 3 Spout and body of "multiple lamp" with incised and impressed

decoration 4 Cooo8 D3 L 13 Neck and beginning of handle of a one-handled tankard 5 C200oo2 TII L 3 Rim and shoulder of a pithoid jar with relief rope-pattern

decoration 6 C2o38 TI L 4 Sauceboat spout 7 C2o23 TI L 4 Rim and body fragment of a neckless jar with a horizontal

arched handle FIG. i0.1 SF 253 Ci L 16 Plain bowl (large radius)

2 SF 965 F3 L 4 Plain bowl (large radius) 3 SF 412 D3 L 4 Plain bowl

4 SF 1012 B1 L 2 Plain bowl

5 SF 780 F2 L 2 Deep bowl with lug 6 SF 2339 D2 L o Bowl with ledge lug 7 SF 2807 D2 L 1o Small cup 8 SF 2127 C1 L 27 Palette

9 SF 6221 C4L 3 Cylindrical 'spool' pyxis (base) 10 SF 2183 D3 L 7 Conical lid of cylindrical pyxis 11 SF 2108 Ci L 24 Lid of cylindrical pyxis 12 SF 1944 D3 L 7 Steatite spherical pyxis 13 SF2423 D2 L 13 Footed cup 14 SF 395 190210o surface Footed cup of grey marble

15 SF 1727 B4 L 5 Steatite table 16 SF2310o D2 L 8 Limestone deep bowl

17 SF 381 F2 surface Limestone deep bowl FIG. 12.1 4605 N2 surface find Male

2 6614 D3 L 15 Chalandriani variety: torso 3 62o5 C4 L 2 Head (Spedos) with paint ghosts

FIG. 13.1 6274 C4 L 5 Weathered 2 6841 J2 L 2 Breast fragment 3 6851 J2 L 4 Apeiranthos type: head

4 6605 D3 L 14 Apeiranthos type: body 5 7152 D4 L 1 Apeiranthos type: body 6 6252 C4 L 5 Chalandriani variety: legs 7 6203 C4 L2 Foot 8 6254 C4 L 5 Foot



134 RENFREW ET AL

FIG. 14.1 6478 D2 L 35 Pelvis of large FAF (Spedos variety) FIG. 15.1 SF 2753 D3 L 10o Spool of Spondylus shell

2 SF 382 D3 L 1" 3 SF 2104 C1i L 24 4 SF 131io D2 L 5 5 SF 2271 D3 L 8 6 SF 1317 D3 L 6 Spool of stone 7 SF 2438 D2 L

16" 8 SF 1721 B4 L 4 9 SF 425 D3 L 4 o10 SF2109 C1 L 24

11 D 5202 900oo430 surface Spool of stone (Dhaskalio) 12 D 5741 T.i1 L 4 Spool of lead (Dhaskalio)

PLATE 5a Ci L 16 Sauceboat sherds

5b.1 D2 L 3 Multiple lamp 2 904 C1 L 6 Multiple lamp 3 Ci L 24 Multiple lamp 4 DI L 3 Multiple lamp 5 Di L 3 Multiple lamp

PLATE 6a From C3 Marble bowl fragments various layers

6b All from D3 Marble figurine fragments etc. L 8 and 9

PLATE 7.1 7154 D4 L 2 Head. Spedos variety 2 972 F3 L 4 Dokathismata variety 3 6433 D2 L 32 Head. Chalandriani variety 4 7410 F2 L 2 Head. Post-canonical (limestone)

PIATE 8.1 4605 KS Surface Male 2 6287+6288 C4 L 3 Joining (Spedos variety) 3 6247 C4 L 5 Torso (Spedos variety) 4 2207 B4 L 5 Waist (Spedos variety)

There is much more to learn about the settlement on Dhaskalio. It is already clear that the present project will only initiate study on this major site, which is likely to have a continuing role in Cycladic settlement studies.

Together Dhaskalio and Kavos promise to transform our understanding of the Early Cycladic period, which has hitherto been based primarily upon the well-preserved grave goods recovered from the Cycladic cemeteries. It can now be seen that such 'elite' goods functioned also in ritual contexts which were not necessarily or exclusively funerary. It is time for Early Cycladic studies to move beyond the grave.

McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3ER Director of Antiquities, Mytiline, Greece Archaeology Center, Stanford University California, USA Archaeologist, Athens Wiener Laboratory American School of Classical Studies in Athens

COLIN RENFREW

OLGA PHILANIOTOU NEIL BRODIE

GIORGOS GAVALAS Evi MARGARITIS




McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3ER Archaeologist, Athens

CHARLES FRENCH

PANAGIOTA SOTIRAKOPOULOU

BIBLIOGRAPHY

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(1977), Early Bronze Age Burial Habits in the Cyclades (Studies in Mediterranean Archaeology, 48; Goteborg).

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Metzler, B. Otto, and Chr. Mfiller-Wirth (eds.), Antidoron: Festschrift fir Jiirgen Thimme (Karlsruhe), 37-44. S

(1987), Sculptors of the Cyclades: Individual and Tradition in the Third Millennium BC (Ann Arbor, MI).

Kohler, U. (1884, 'Praehistorisches von den griechischen Inseln', AM 9, 156-9. Marangou, L. (1990), "KuKoa6tK0`6 8taob)to 0 u6 nrlv Mtvcu Aiopyo6", Arch. Eph. 129,

159-76. (200oo7), 'Keros and the neighbouring islands', in Renfrew et al. 9-16. Renfrew, C., Doumas, C., and Gavalas G. (eds.) (2oo6), Markiani, Amorgos: An Early

Bronze Age Fortified Settlement. Overview of the 1985-199 I Investigations (BSA Supp. 40; London).

Michon, E. (1929), 'Idoles des Cyclades (Musee du Louvre)', Cahiers d'art, 4, 251-7. Milller, K. (1938), Tiryns. Die Ergebnisse der Ausgrabungen des Instituts. IV. Die Urfirniskeramik

(Mainz). Rahmstorf, L. (200oo3), 'The identification of Early Helladic weights and their wider



136 RENFREW ET AL

implications', in K. P. Foster and R. Laffineur (eds.), Metron: Measuring the Aegean Bronze Age (Aegaeum, 24; Liege), 293-32.

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(2oo6), The 'Keros Hoard': Myth or Reality? Searching for the Lost Pieces of a Puzzle (Athens). Vaughan, S.J., and Wilson, D. (1993), 'Interregional contacts in the Aegean in Early Bronze

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(1968a), "KuKrXd6Sg- &vacYK(ptKati Epsuvat-t ptoialtt KFpoq", A. Delt., Chr. 23, 38-3. (1968b), 'Cycladic finds from Keros', AAA 1, Y97-100oo. (1975), "O-c parm CK KEpou", AAA 8, 79-85. (200oo7a), 'The 1967 rescue project', in Renfrew et al. 30-2. S (2oo7b), 'A further note on work in 1966 and 1967', in Renfrew et al. 32-6.

Zervos, C. (1957), L'Art des Cyclades (Paris).



PLATE 1

i~ i~ iil

RENFREW ET AL KEROS: DHASKALIO AND KAVOS, EARLY CYCLADIC STRONGHOLD AND RITUAL CENTRE,

PRELIMINARY REPORT OF THE 2oo6 AND 200oo7 EXCAVATION SEASONS PLATE 1. (a) Dhaskalio island seen from the south-east, from Kavos on Keros. Square trenches of the Special Deposit South are seen in the foreground. (b) Cairn material of the Special Deposit South on Kavos in May

2oo6 prior to the clearance of vegetation, with Dhaskalio in the background (seen from the south-east).



PLATE 2

-


PRELIMINARY REPORT OF THE 2oo6 AND 200oo7 EXCAVATION SEASONS PLATE 2. (a) The Special Deposit South, seen from the sea to the west, during excavation. (b) The south baulk of Trench Ci of the Special Deposit South at Dhaskalio, at the completion of excavation of the

trench, seen from the north.



PLATE 3

q4~


PRELIMINARY REPORT OF THE 2oo6 AND 200oo7 EXCAVATION SEASONS PLATE

3- (a) The summit of Dhaskalio from the north, with circular walling north of Trench VI in the

foreground. Note the trenches of the Special Deposit South on Kavos at the left. (b). The long wall on the east side of Dhaskalio seen from the south, with Ano Kouphonisi and Naxos in the background.



PLATE 4

-ILL.:

owl


PRELIMINARY REPORT OF THE 2oo6 AND 200oo7 EXCAVATION SEASONS PLATE 4. (a) Trenches I (front) and II (rear) from the east, showing the long wall (Wall A, of limestone

boulders) which divides them, with Wall B, in front, constructed of laminar marble building stone imported from south-east Naxos. (b) The summit area of Dhaskalio seen from the south, with early bronze age walling in Trench VII (right, foreground) and with walls of the church behind (the horizontal ranging

rod marks its eastern wall). Naxos with Mount Zas in the distance.



PLATE 5

i : .::


PRELIMINARY REPORT OF THE 2oo6 AND 200oo7 EXCAVATION SEASONS PLATE 5. (a) Sauceboat sherds from the Special Deposit South (from Trench Ci). Scale in cm. (b)

Fragments of multiple lamps from the Special Deposit South.



PLATE 6

Ul iiiiii..11.... .....:Ui

i.,.~i


PRELIMINARY REPORT OF THE 2oo6 AND 200oo7 EXCAVATION SEASONS PLATE 6. (a) The marble bowl fragments recovered from various layers of Trench C3 in 200oo7, indicating the

fragmentary nature of a typical assemblage from the special deposit. Scale in cm. (b) Cluster of marble figurines (and bowl fragments) recovered in 2006 from Trench D3 layers 8 (and 9), showing fragments of

folded arm figurines and of figurines of Apeiranthos type.



PLATE 7

1


PRELIMINARY REPORT OF THE 200oo6 AND 200oo7 EXCAVATION SEASONS PLATE 7. Heads of figurines from the Special Deposit South of the Spedos (1), Dokathismata (2),

Chalandriani (3), and post-canonical (4) varieties. Scales in cm.



PLATE 8

12

3

4


PRELIMINARY REPORT OF THE 2oo6 AND 200oo7 EXCAVATION SEASONS PIATE 8. Fragments from the Special Deposit South of a male figurine (i), of two joining head

fragments (2), of a typical torso fragment (3), and a large waist fragment with few distinguishing features (4). Scales in cm.



keros: dhaskalio and kavos, early cycladic stronghold and ritual centre, annual of the british...

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