Lefkandi

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Lefkandi is a coastal village on the island of Euboea. Archaeological finds attest to a settlement on the promontory locally known as Xeropolis, while several associated cemeteries have been identified nearby. The settlement site is located on a promontory overlooking the Euripos, with small bays forming natural harbours east and west of the site. The cemeteries are located on the hillslopes northwest of the settlement; the plots identified so far are known as the East Cemetery, Skoubris, Palia Perivolia, Toumba, in addition to further smaller groups of burials. The site is located between the island’s two main cities in antiquity, Chalkis and Eretria. Excavation here is conducted under the direction of the British School at Athens, and is ongoing as of 2007 (Previous campaigns in 1964-8, 1981-4). Occupation at Lefkandi can be traced back to the Early Bronze Age, and continued throughout the Bronze and Iron Ages, to end at the beginning of the Archaic period (early 7th century BCE). The known cemeteries cover only part of the periods attested in the settlement, dating to the Submycenaean through Subgeometric periods (ca. 1050-800 BCE). The abandonment of Lefkandi conincides with a rise in settlement activity in nearby Eretria, and it has been argued by the excavators that the site is, in fact, Old Eretria.

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[edit] Lefkandi’s contribution to archaeology

The site’s importance is due to a number of factors. First, substantial occupation strata of the Late Helladic IIIC period (ca. 1200-1100/1075 BCE) excavated in the 1960s allowed the establishment of a ceramic sequence for this period, at that time insufficiently attested. The IIIC settlement furthermore stands in contrast to sites in the other parts of Greece, such as the Peloponnese, where many sites were abandoned at the end of LHIIIB (i.e. the end of the Mycenaean palatial period). This situation places Lefkandi within a group of sites in Central Greece with important post-palatial occupation, such as Mitrou (settlement), Kalapodi (sanctuary), and Elateia (cemetery).


[edit] Heroon

The archaeological significance of the site was revealed in 1980 when a large mound was discovered to contain the remains of a man and a woman within a large structure called by some a heroön, or "hero's grave." There is some dispute as to whether the structure was in fact a heroön built to commemorate a hero or whether it was instead the grave of a couple who were locally important for other reasons. The building, approximately 43-48 meters long, foreshadows the monumental temple architecture that appeared with regularity some two centuries later.

One of the bodies in the grave had been cremated, the ashes being wrapped in a fringed linen cloth then stored in a bronze amphora from Cyprus. The amphora was engraved with a hunting scene and placed within a still larger bronze bowl. A sword and other grave goods were nearby. It is believed that the ashes were those of a man.

The woman's body was not cremated. Instead, she was buried alongside a wall and adorned with jewelry, including a ring of electrum and a gorget believed to have come from Babylonia and already a thousand years old when it was buried. An iron knife with an ivory handle was found near her shoulder.

Four horses appear to have been sacrificed and were included in the grave. Some of them were wearing iron bits in their mouths.

[edit] Xeropolis

Archaeological research has brought to light a settlement where continuous occupation can be demonstrated from the Mycenaean period through the dark ages and into historic times. It has been suggested by the excavators that the site can be identified as the old Eretria which was forced to up root and move farther from Chalkis as a result of the Lelantine War.


[edit] References and links

  • Ancient Greece from Prehistoric to Hellenistic Times by Thomas R. Martin 1996 Yale University Press ISBN 0-300-06956-1 A text written by Prof. Martin to accompany the Perseus Project on-line resources.


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