THE GEOMETRIC PERIOD
CATALOGUE: SOUTHERN PART OF CEMETERY 37 any grave offerings. Probably it had contained the
body of an infant of which the skeleton had entirely disintegrated. There were no graves near by for which this could have been an outside offering, and the careful covering of the mouth suggests that the vessel had itself contained a burial.
54-1 (T 2204) Coarse Krater. PI. 9.
H. 0.259 m.; d. 0.323 m.
Mended from many pieces; fragments of the body, and both handles, restored. Coarse Corinthian clay.
GRAVES IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE CEMETERY GRAVES 65-62
Plans 1 (7-8 C-E), 2.
At the southern limit of the area occupied by Geometric burials were eight more graves identifiable as belonging to Geometric times. Seven of these were oriented north-south, the eighth east-west. They seem to be scattered burials which it is not possible to relate in groups suggesting family plots. They have been numbered arbitrarily from west to east.
GRAVE 55
Plans 1 (8 E), 2.
Depth below surface 2.50 m.
Orientation North-South.
Earth burial, covered by a sandstone slab, broken.
Cover dimensions: L. 1.60 m.; w. 0.845 m.;
th. 0.095 m.
The earth filling in the cist contained a few sherds and scraps of obsidian.
Skeleton: contracted on left side, with head to south.
Earth burial covered by a sandstone slab, broken.
Cover dimensions: L. 1.60m.; w. 0.87 m.; th. 0.15m.
The earth filling of the cist contained numerous Geometric sherds, none later.
Earth burial, covered by a sandstone slab, broken.
Cover dimensions: L. 1.65 m.; w. 0.90 m.;
th. 0.145 m.
In the earth filling numerous sherds, the latest Geometric.
Earth burial, covered by a sandstone slab, broken.
Cover dimensions: L. 1.50m.; w. 0.62m.; th. 0.10m.
The earth filling of the cist contained Geometric sherds.
Slab sarcophagus, covered by a sandstone slab, unbroken.
Cover dimensions: L. 1.94m.; w. 0.77m.; th. 0.14m.
Inside dimensions: 1.27 by 0.52 m.; depth 0.43 m.
The sarcophagus was made with five slabs of very soft poros, evidently cut with the saw. One served as the floor, the others, set upon it, were neatly mortised together at the corners. The sarcophagus was very tight as shown by the amount of earth inside which was only 7 cm. in depth.
Skeleton: very disintegrated; contracted on its right side, with head to the south.
Contents: two iron pins.
59-1 a and b (T 2896) Pair of Iron Pins.
L. (a) 0.064 m.; (b) 0.056 m.
Two similar short iron pins, much rusted and corroded, one of them (b) broken in two. Short tapering blades and projecting heads, now shapeless.
GRAVE 60
Plans 1 (7 C), 2.
Depth below surface 1.75 m.
Orientation North-South.
Slab sarcophagus covered by a sandstone slab.
Cover dimensions: L. 1.59m.; w. 0.83m.; th. 0.17m.
Inside dimensions: 1.16 by 0.46 m.; depth 0.415 m.
The sarcophagus similar to that of Grave 59; the end slabs projected beyond the sides at the corners.
The soft poros much disintegrated. Earth accumu- lation over floor 14 cm. deep.
Skeleton: contracted, head to south. Much dis- integrated.
Contents: two bronze pins, 60-1 a and b, found near the shoulders of the skeleton.
60-1 a and b (T 2897) Pair of Bronze Pins.
P.1. (a) 0.028 m.; (b) 0.023 m.
Probably originally a pair; both much corroded and broken off below the heads. Flat projecting nail-
© American School of Classical Studies at Athens For personal use only. License: CC-BY-NC-ND.
like heads; a raised knob on the shafts about 7 mm.
Sarcophagus of rubble and slabs, covered by a sandstone slab, broken.
Cover dimensions: L. 1.70m.; w. 0.75m.; th. 0.13m.
Inside dimensions: 1.48 by 0.57 m.; depth 0.39 m.
The ends of the grave were slabs of soft poros; the long sides were built up of rubble.
The earth filling of the grave contained a few Geometric sherds.
Skeleton: contracted on right side, head to south.
Contents: none.
GRAVE 62
Plans 1 (7 C), 2.
Depth below surface 2.10 m.
Orientation East-West.
Slab sarcophagus covered by a sandstone slab, broken.
Cover dimensions: L. 1.75 m.; w. 0.88 m.;
th. 0.165 m.
Inside dimensions: 1.235 by 0.493 m.; depth 0.38 m.
The sarcophagus similar to those of Graves 59-60.
Skeleton: contracted on left side, head to east.
Contents: one iron pin, 62-1.
62-1 (T 2898) Iron Pin.
P.I. 0.058 m.
Straight shaft of iron so corroded and swollen as to be unrecognizable in form. A swelling at one end perhaps a projecting head.
SPORADIC FINDS FROM THE CEMETERY
A number of Geometric vases of various shapes were found throughout the part of the cemetery in which the Geometric graves lay, the pots usually broken and their fragments well scattered. These vases cannot now be assigned to particular graves, though there can be no doubt that they were once offerings placed in or beside Geometric burials, or in the case of larger vessels perhaps the containing urns for infant burials. In addition to the six painted kraters, the fragmentary amphora, and the three coarse jars or kraters published here there were two coarse hydriai like those found outside Graves 14-18 and Grave 20. These were so broken that it has not seemed worth while to include here more details and pictures of vessels of a type so common and so stereotyped that little can be learned from it.
The series is listed with the letter S to indicate sporadic vases not connected with any particular grave.
Intact. Buff clay, somewhat grayed, pink at the core, the surface brownish. Solid glaze, black to reddish brown and red, slightly metallic.
Ring foot slightly flaring and plump rounded body with short vertical rim thickened at the lip and projecting outward. Composite handles. The foot and bottom of the body glazed; then a solidly glazed zone between two banded zones to the level of the handles. The handle panels set off by sets of five verticals, slightly diagonal. The handle zone divided horizontally by five bands. Below, six panels filled by rows of chevrons (nine in each) and separated by sets of nine verticals. Above, panels only at the ends, filled by simple zigzag, which also fills the long central zone. Above, five bands to the rim; on it at each side eight sets of nine parallel zigzags. The handle panels undecorated; on the outer faces of the straps and the upper faces of the rolled handles ladder pattern. The upper face of the rim reserved and decorated with ten sets of nine short parallels. The inside solidly glazed; a small hole in the bottom which may or may not be ancient.
S-2 (T 2554) Geometric Krater, P1. 10.
Art and Archaeology, XXXI, 1931, p. 156.
H. 0.286 m.; d. at (slightly oval) rim 0.264 and 0.273 m.; max. d. 0.326 m.
Mended from many pieces; small chips missing.
Fine buff Corinthian clay, in places tinged greenish.
Black to reddish brown glaze, very badly peeled.
High ring foot, slightly flared, and plump ovoid body with short vertical rim. Composite handles. The foot and bottom of the body glazed; above a banded and a second glazed zone. The body banded from about halfway to the foot to just below handle-level. The handle zone at each side divided by sets of seven parallel verticals into five panels. In the outer panels vertical zigzags at the left on one face, at the right on the other; in the other two outer panels and in the central panel of each face sets of horizontal zigzags. In the intermediate panels large crested water birds with long necks and legs, opposed; filling ornament of swastikas, short zigzags, and vertical wavy lines. Five bands below the rim; on it sets of seven short vertical zigzags, eight at each side, between single bands above and below. On the upper face of the rim short parallel strokes in sets of seven. The inside glazed. The handle panels set off by sets of five parallel lines running diagonally downward;
ladder pattern on the faces of vertical and horizontal handles. Parallel vertical zigzags under the arched handles.
© American School of Classical Studies at Athens For personal use only. License: CC-BY-NC-ND.
CATALOGUE: SPORADIC FINDS 39 S-3 (T 2713) Geometric Krater. P1. 10.
H. 0.251 m.; d. at (slightly oval) rim 0.267 and 0.275 m.; max. d. 0.294 m.
Mended from many pieces; small chips missing.
Buff Corinthian clay with fine creamy surface; dull glaze, black to brown, somewhat peeled. Slightly flaring ring foot and short vertical rim; composite handles. Foot and lower part of body glazed, with a reserved band half-way. Above, bands to the handle zone. Decoration of the handle zone the same on both faces: at the center a wide panel bordered at each side by eight verticals and filled by opposed water birds, crested, with long necks and legs; in the field beside the birds blobs and vertical wavy lines, between them parallel zigzags. To each side of the central panel a narrower one filled by parallel zigzags. The narrow end panels filled with butterfly pattern and separated from the adjacent panels and the handles by sets of seven verticals at each side. Above, four bands to the rim; on the rim at each side eight sets of short vertical zigzags, with sets of eight straight verticals beside the handle attachments. On the outer face of each rolled handle a row of dots between bands; the upper faces of the straps banded. The upper face of the lip reserved and decorated with sets of parallel strokes; the inside solidly glazed.
S-4 (T 2441) Geometric Krater. P1. 11.
H. as restored 0.29 m.
Mended from many pieces; large sections missing and restored in plaster. Buff Corinthian clay; brownish glaze, much peeled. Flaring ring foot, pointed body, short vertical rim, composite handles. The foot and lower body glazed, then bands to handle level. In the handle zone parallel diagonals set off the handles;
at the ends narrow panels filled with parallel zigzags, in the long central panels meander, hatched, running from right to left. Above, five bands to the rim; on the rim sets of parallel vertical wavy lines. The inside glazed.
S-5 Geometric Krater Fragment. P1. 10.
P.h. 0. 225 m.; d. foot 0.14 m.
Although this fragment was undoubtedly found in the North Cemetery, it bears no number, nor can it be identified in the notebooks.
Buff Corinthian clay decorated with red to brownish glaze; the inside glazed. The lower body preserved to about the level of the handle attach- ments. Ring foot and plump rounded body. The foot and bottom of the body glazed, with a reserved line where they join; the body above banded. A partly preserved zone decorated with sigmas in sets of six seems to have been the lowest element of decoration in the handle zone. Above it bands, as far up as preserved.
S-6 (T 2733) Fragmentary Geometric Krater. PI. 11.
P.h. 0.16 m. A fragment only, made up from many pieces and preserving part of the rim with one strap
handle and part of the shoulder and body; the bottom missing. Body, shoulder, and rim continuously banded, the banding interrupted at the upper and lower limits of the handle zone by narrow zones filled with vertical zigzags or wavy lines. The outer ends of the strap handle banded horizontally, the center vertically.
S-7 (T 1224) Geometric Krater Fragment. P1. 10.
About half the body preserved, without foot or handle; the attachments which are partly preserved show that the last was composite. Open rounded body and short upstanding rim. The bottom of the body glazed; above, bands interrupted by three zones filled by vertical zigzags or wavy lines. Beside the handle two narrow panels filled by chevron columns and zigzags, bordered by quintuple verticals. The bottom of the handle zone decorated by wavy verti- cals below bands; on the shoulder a hatched meander running right to left. On the rim dotted rings, linked.
S-8 (T 2795) Fragmentary Geometric Amphora. P1.10.
Found in the area of Graves 56-58, but not assignable to any grave.
Mended from many pieces; all of the upper part, including the rim, neck, handles, and most of the shoulder missing. Brownish buff clay, rather coarse;
dull black glaze, in places much peeled. Slightly flaring ring foot and tall ovoid body. Glazed to the level of greatest diameter, with four reserved zones regularly spaced, each filled by carelessly drawn double bands. Above the uppermost of these a zone decorated with sets of eight to twelve verticals, the narrow panels between sets filled by X's.
S-9 (T 2267) Coarse Krater. P1. 11.
H. 0.245 m.; max. d. 0.315 m.
Half of one handle and all of the other restored;
otherwise intact. Coarse Corinthian fabric, buff sur- face stroke-polished vertically. Similar to 40-2 but with plain band handles lacking lugs beside their attachments.
S-10 (T 2185) Coarse Krater. P1. 11.
H. 0.428 m.; max. d. 0.405 m.
Fragments of the rim missing, and one handle.
Coarse Corinthian fabric. Low rather narrow base and plump body pointed toward the bottom, narrow- ing above to a short neck below a fiat projecting rim.
Rolled shoulder handles, fitted under the rim at the top. Handmade and stroke-polished.
S-11 (T 2821) Coarse Krater. P1. 11.
H. 0.388 m.; d. rim 0.286 m.; max. d. 0.325 m.
Mended from several pieces; chips missing. Coarse Corinthian fabric, handmade and stroke-polished.
Similar to S-10; the projecting rim shorter.
S-12 Coarse Krater. P1. 11.
H. 0.45; max. d. 0.68 m.
Mended; small pieces missing. Corinthian coarse ware; shape and fabric like those of 40-2.
© American School of Classical Studies at Athens For personal use only. License: CC-BY-NC-ND.
S-13 Coarse Krater. P1. 11.
This krater bears the number T 2229, duplicating that of 40-2. The kraters are so alike that it is not surprising that they should have been confused. It proved impossible to track down the proper number
of this vessel, which as one more example of the type S-9 to S-12 and 40-2 illustrates the popularity of the shape in the middle and second half of the eighth century.
H. 0.29 m.