dining in the sanctuary of demeter and kore 1 H e s p e r i a The Journal of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens Volume 80 2011 Copyright © The American School of Classical Studies at Athens, originally published in Hesperia 80 (2011), pp. 381–429. This offprint is supplied for personal, non-commercial use only. The definitive electronic version of the article can be found at <http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.2972/hesperia.80.3.0381>. hesperia Tracey Cullen, Editor Editorial Advisory Board Carla M. Antonaccio, Duke University Angelos Chaniotis, Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton Jack L. Davis, American School of Classical Studies at Athens A. A. Donohue, Bryn Mawr College Jan Driessen, Université Catholique de Louvain Marian H. Feldman, University of California, Berkeley Gloria Ferrari Pinney, Harvard University Sherry C. Fox, American School of Classical Studies at Athens Thomas W. Gallant, University of California, San Diego Sharon E. J. Gerstel, University of California, Los Angeles Guy M. Hedreen, Williams College Carol C. Mattusch, George Mason University Alexander Mazarakis Ainian, University of Thessaly at Volos Lisa C. Nevett, University of Michigan Josiah Ober, Stanford University John K. Papadopoulos, University of California, Los Angeles Jeremy B. Rutter, Dartmouth College A. J. S. Spawforth, Newcastle University Monika Trümper, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Hesperia is published quarterly by the American School of Classical Studies at Athens. Founded in 1932 to publish the work of the American School, the jour- nal now welcomes submissions from all scholars working in the fields of Greek archaeology, art, epigraphy, history, materials science, ethnography, and literature, from earliest prehistoric times onward. Hesperia is a refereed journal, indexed in Abstracts in Anthropology, L’Année philologique, Art Index, Arts and Humanities Citation Index, Avery Index to Architectural Periodicals, Current Contents, IBZ: Internationale Bibliographie der geistes- und sozialwissenschaftlichen Zeitschriften- literatur, Numismatic Literature, Periodicals Contents Index, Russian Academy of Sciences Bibliographies, and TOCS-IN. The journal is also a member of CrossRef. The American School of Classical Studies at Athens is a research and teaching institution dedicated to the advanced study of the archaeology, art, history, philosophy, language, and literature of Greece and the Greek world. Established in 1881 by a consortium of nine American universities, the School now serves graduate students and scholars from more than 180 affiliated colleges and uni- versities, acting as a base for research and study in Greece. As part of its mission, the School directs on going excavations in the Athenian Agora and at Corinth and sponsors all other American-led excavations and surveys on Greek soil. It is the official link between American archaeologists and classicists and the Ar- chaeological Service of the Greek Ministry of Culture and, as such, is dedicated to the wise management of cultural resources and to the d issemination of knowl- edge of the classical world. Inquiries about programs or membership in the School should be sent to the American School of Classical Studies at Athens, 6–8 Charlton Street, Princeton, New Jersey 08540-5232. A Place of Burning hesperia 80 (2011) Pages 381–429 Hero or Ancestor Cult at Troy AbstrAct this article presents the evidence for Early Archaic ritual activity on the site of a Late bronze Age cemetery a short distance outside the walls of troy, at a spot known to excavators as “A Place of burning.” Here, as at the West sanctuary adjacent to the citadel, the evidence follows a pattern similar to that found in hero and ancestor cults at other sites. Growing population in the region may have led the inhabitants of troy to use associations with bronze Age remains as a way of strengthening territorial claims and bolstering the power of the local elite. IntroductIon In 1932, on a gentle slope northwest of the Trojan citadel, Carl Blegen and a team of excavators from the University of Cincinnati found what they interpreted as evidence of cremations conducted at the site during the Late Bronze Age and Archaic period.1 Since then this spot, which they named “A Place of Burning,” has attracted little scholarly attention.2 In 2003–2005 a team from the University of Tübingen resumed excavation at the site, and analysis of the new finds suggests a somewhat different conclusion. A large number of vessel fragments probably do belong to Late Bronze Age (LBA) cremation urns, and thus support part of Blegen’s original interpre- tation. The Early Archaic material, however, can be better understood as 1. Blegen 1932, pp. 441–444; Diane Thumm-Do rayan. John Wall- 2. Huxley (1966, p. 157) has ğ Troy III, pp. 394–396, figs. 285–287; rodt graciously helped prepare the illus- suggested that the Lokrian maid- Troy IV, p. 299. I would like to thank trations, for which I am very grateful. ens were cremated at the Place of many members of the team at Troy for I thank especially Brian Rose and Ernst Burning; more recently, Fisher their help, including Maureen Basedow, Pernicka for permission to study the (2000, pp. 60–61) and Hertel (2008b, Ralf Becks, Gebhard Bieg, Pavol Hnila, material. I have also benefited greatly pp. 113–124) have proposed that it Peter Jablonka, Moni Möck-Aksoy, from the suggestions of the anonymous was a cult area. Penelope Mountjoy, Wendy Rigter, and reviewers. All dates are b.c. © The American School of Classical Studies at Athens 382 carolyn chabot aslan the remains of feasting that took place in or around a building deliberately set within the Late Bronze Age cemetery. Nearby, in the West Sanctuary, a cult building had been erected in the 9th to mid-8th century on a site specifically chosen to draw attention to structures of the Late Bronze Age. Behind the cult building, rituals were performed around stone circles set high on a platform prominently located next to the LBA citadel wall. In addition, Maureen Basedow has recently presented evidence for later activity around Bronze Age ruins in the South Gate area.3 The evidence from Troy fits into a wider pattern observed in the 8th–7th centuries in other regions, such as Attica and the Argolid, where a variety of practices, including tomb cult, hero shrines, and the location of cult buildings near LBA ruins, indicate a desire by inhabitants to claim or forge a connection with the Late Bronze Age. At Troy, the intensifica- tion of ritual activity around LBA remains is probably related to a rise in population, and perhaps to the interest of outside groups in establishing colonies or territorial control of the Troad, in the late 8th and first half of the 7th century. ExcAvAtIon HIstory, ArcHI tEctur E, And strAtIGrAPHy The Place of Burning is located 80–90 m northwest of the Late Bronze Age citadel of Troy, in sector vw3 (Fig. 1). Marion Rawson supervised the excavations at the site in 1932, during the first season of work by Carl Ble- gen’s team.4 The excavators opened a series of long, narrow trenches while searching for a cemetery, and with the exception of one building, found that the area was not generally inhabited during the Archaic period. Later city planners likewise left it outside the protection of the Hellenistic city wall, and burials dotted the slopes in the Hellenistic and Roman periods, as seems to have been the case in the Late Bronze Age as well.5 For reasons probably related to the sloping terrain, it was never favored for habitation. In one of the narrow trenches, which was later enlarged, Rawson found a structure consisting of a curving wall encircling a deposit of burned debris, ceramics, and animal and human bones (Fig. 2). In the final reports of the University of Cincinnati excavations, Blegen describes the stratigraphy and architecture, with a brief discussion of some of the pot- tery.6 There were many gray ware cups, amphoras, dinoi, and kraters from the Troy VIII (Archaic) period, as well as fragments of large urns, similar to those found in the Troy VI (LBA) cemetery south of the citadel. The presence of cinerary urns, burned debris, and human bones led Blegen to the conclusion that this was a site of cremations in both the Late Bronze Age and the Archaic period. From 2003 to 2005, a team from the University of Tübingen conducted renewed excavations in sector vw3. Excavator Ralf Becks uncovered more of 3. Basedow 2009, pp. 136–142. of Classics, University of Cincinnati period in several of the trenches. See 4. Rawson excavation notebook (hereafter, Rawson notebook). also Blegen 1932, pp. 443–444. 1932, vol. 1, area 7 in trench M6, 5. In her notebook Rawson records 6. Troy III, pp. 394–396, figs. 285– Troy excavation records, Department burials of the Hellenistic or Roman 287; Troy IV, p. 299. hero or ancestor cult at troy 383 Figure 1. Plan of troy. Courtesy the the structure discovered by Rawson, another wall to the south, and several Troia Project exterior pits (Figs. 3, 4).7 By piecing together the information from both excavations, the following architectural and stratigraphic sequence can be reconstructed. The uppermost stratum contained Late Hellenistic and Roman graves. Below this were the remains of the building, which appears to have been roughly oval in shape, 9.71 x 5.35 m, with an entrance 1 m wide on the short southwest side; a pivot stone for the door was found in place. Parts of both ends of the building survive, but a large section in the middle does not. Of the west end, excavated by Becks, only a small portion consisting of a single course of stones is preserved, and because so little remains, there is some doubt about the oval plan. The east end, excavated by Rawson, was more complete, with stone foundations standing to a height of ca. 1 m. 7. Korfmann 2004, pp. 12–13; 2005, Blegen described the wall as “battered” because of its distinct inward pp. 9–10; Jablonka 2006, p. 9, figs. 8, 9; inclination. Becks excavation notebooks 2003, When Rawson excavated within the building, she found animal bones, 2004, 2005, sector vw3, Troia Project, University of Tübingen (hereafter, human bone fragments, burned wood and other carbonized material, and Becks notebooks). Preliminary publi- a mixture of ceramics dating to the Late Bronze Age and Archaic period. cations reported slightly larger dimen- A large number of stones were also found in the building, some of them in sions for the oval building, but these heaps. In her notebook, Rawson records a possible hearth, but this feature have been corrected. was not included in the published reports.8 No distinct floor level could be 8. Rawson notebook 1932, p. 88. identified. Blegen briefly mentions another poorly preserved wall, which 9. Troy III, pp. 394–396, figs. 285– 287. may have been a crosswall within the building.9 384 carolyn chabot aslan Figure 2. oval structure excavated in 1932 at the Place of burning (sec- tor vw3). Troy III, fig. 285. Courtesy Department of Classics, University of Cincinnati Below the foundation level of the oval structure, Rawson encountered a LBA (Troy VI) stratum, a small portion of which was excavated down to bedrock. At this point, however, water began to seep into the trench and excavation ceased.10 The excavators within the building in 2003 removed quantities of eroded fill until they finally reached Troy VI levels. No clear Archaic strata or floor level could be distinguished from the accumulated fill. Since the water table in the area is now lower as a result of pumping for agricultural irrigation, it was possible to excavate the Troy VI levels without water filling the trench. In the lowest levels over bedrock, Early and Middle Bronze Age ceramics were found.11 In 2004 and 2005, Becks also investigated the area outside the build- 10. Rawson notebook 1932, p. 99; ing, where he discovered several pits: two large ones, ca. 1 m wide and Troy III, pp. 394–396; Troy IV, p. 299. 0.75–0.80 m deep, and four small circular ones, ca. 0.40 m in diameter, 11. Korfmann 2004, pp. 12–13. which were set in a row close together and probably once held wooden posts Blegen (1932, p. 441) also mentions (Figs. 3, 4). The line of postholes may originally have extended farther to finding early prehistoric ceramics in the east along the side of the building; Becks observed possible traces of this area. 12. R. Becks (pers. comm.). additional postholes, but these were not clearly preserved.12 If the posts 13. Cf. the evidence for peristyles did continue, they may have formed a kind of peristyle, with the section around Late Geometric–Early Archaic in front of the building serving as a porch.13 Alternatively, they may have oval buildings at Oropos (Mazarakis formed part of an additional barrier or enclosure near the entrance to the Ainian 1998, pp. 193–194, 201–202). hero or ancestor cult at troy 385 Figure 3. Plan of the excavation of 2003–2005 in sector vw3, showing the oval structure, pits, and terrace wall. Courtesy the Troia Project building, or even part of another structure. Farther south were the remains of another thin wall, 0.30 m wide and poorly preserved, which Becks in- terprets as a terrace wall.14 The wall of the oval structure varied from 0.30 to 0.50 m in thickness. Blegen felt that this was too thin to support a superstructure; instead, he interpreted it as a terrace wall supporting a precinct.15 Iron Age structures, however, can have quite thin walls,16 and if the pivot stone at the west end is in situ, it would support the interpretation of the structure as a roofed building, against Blegen’s suggestion of a terrace. It nevertheless remains possible that the structure was an open enclosure. 14. Becks notebooks 2004, 2005; 16. Fagerström (1988, pp. 119–121) Korfmann 2005, pp. 9–10; Jablonka observes that Iron Age walls are usually 2006, p. 9, figs. 8, 9. 0.50–0.70 m thick; walls as thin as 15. Troy III, pp. 394–396, figs. 285– 0.30 m do occur, but infrequently. 287; Troy IV, p. 299. 386 carolyn chabot aslan Figure 4. view of the excavation of 2003–2005 in sector vw3, showing the west end of the oval structure, pits, and terrace wall, from the south. Photo courtesy the Troia Project Blegen reports that human bones were discovered in the structure, along with considerable quantities of animal bones.17 In the excavation notebook, Rawson writes that human bones were found throughout the excavated strata, but the final reports do not mention human bones in the lowest Troy VI level. Human bones were identified in three of the units excavated in 2003–2005, two from deep levels below the building and one from a large pit outside the building.18 Admittedly, these are fewer than one would expect, in view of Blegen’s interpretation of the area as a place for cremations. It is possible that the cremated bone material is very fragmented and therefore hard to detect, as seems to have been the case in the Troy VI cremation urn cemetery also excavated by Blegen.19 The animal bones have not yet been studied. 17. Troy III, pp. 394–396; Troy IV, bones, for the following information. are from Troy VI levels within the p. 299. Behälter (Beh.) 22 contained a human building but below the base of the 18. Only eight of the excavated fibula, two human femur fragments, walls. Beh. 274, from one of the large units with bone material were checked and two rib fragments that might be pits, contained a human finger bone. for human bone. I thank Henrike human or porcine; Beh. 29 contained a 19. Troy III, pp. 370–391. Kiesewetter, who studied the human fragment of a human femur. Both units hero or ancestor cult at troy 387 tAbLE 1. Qu AntItIEs oF rIm sHErds From mIxE d LAtE bronzE A GE And EArL y ArcHAIc contExts Ware and Shape No. of Rims G2/3 ware cups (Early Archaic) 13 G2/3 ware jugs (Early Archaic) 4 Mycenaean painted fine wares (LBA) 2 Various painted and banded vessels (Early Archaic) 11 Gray ware cups (LBA and Early Archaic) 63 Gray ware bowls (LBA and Early Archaic) 31 Gray ware jugs (LBA and Early Archaic) 13 Gray ware table amphoras (LBA and Early Archaic) 24 Gray ware kraters /small jars (LBA and Early Archaic) 24 Gray ware large jars (LBA and Early Archaic) 7 Gray ware large bowls or basins (LBA and Early Archaic) 4 Gray ware uncertain shape (LBA and Early Archaic) 6 Tan ware cups (probably LBA) 4 Tan ware bowls (probably LBA) 7 Tan ware closed vessels (probably LBA) 2 Tan ware uncertain shape (probably LBA) 1 Cooking pots (probably Early Archaic) 16 Gritty ware jars (probably LBA) 48 Plain ware jars (LBA and Early Archaic) 19 Plain ware jugs (LBA and Early Archaic) 5 Plain ware bowls (LBA and Early Archaic) 4 Plain ware uncertain shape (LBA and Early Archaic) 5 Pithoi (probably LBA) 2 Earlier wares (Early or Middle Bronze Age) 34 Uncertain pieces 18 The totals reflect combined counts of rim sherds in the following units: sector vw3, Beh. 239, 241, 263, 269, 273, 277, 281, 284, 286, 289, 292, 298, 301, 305, 308, 311, 314, 320, 322, 325, 328, 331, 337, 344, 347. PottEry And otHE r FInds From tHE 20. Beh. 350, 353, 356. Beh. 350 2003–2005 ExcAvAtIons contained three possible Archaic sherds, but the rest were from the Late The excavations by the University of Tübingen concentrated mostly on the Bronze Age. 21. Beh. 25, 28. area outside the building, where large quantities of Early Archaic (700–650) 22. The Roman and Hellenistic and Late Bronze Age (late Troy VI) ceramics were found mixed together ceramics are not included in this study, in the same contexts. The numbers of rim sherds found in these mixed nor are those from Early and Middle contexts are presented in Table 1. The trench was excavated in many dif- Bronze Age levels. Residual Early and ferent units, but study showed no apparent differences in quantity, type, Middle Bronze Age sherds are fairly common in later strata, and these have or preservation among the ceramic material found in the pits, that found been included in the counts for those directly outside the building, and that found farther away. One exception levels in Tables 1 and 2. There are very is a small area outside the building and directly above the bedrock, which few intrusions of Roman and Hellenis- contained primarily Troy VI pottery.20 Deep Troy VI layers were also en- tic material into the earlier levels. Tan countered below the building.21 The numbers of rim sherds found in these ware and Mycenaean pottery are pure LBA levels are presented in Table 2, separately from those found in included in the counts but do not appear in the catalogue. the mixed contexts.22 388 carolyn chabot aslan tAbLE 2. Qu AntItIEs oF rIm sHErds From LAtE bronzE A GE contExts Ware and Shape No. of Rims Mycenaean painted fine ware present Gray ware cups 16 Gray ware bowls 14 Gray ware jugs 3 Gray ware table amphoras 2 Gray ware kraters/jars 5 Gray ware large jars 6 Gray ware large bowls or basins 2 Gray ware uncertain shape 4 Tan ware bowls 7 Handmade coarse ware 1 Plain ware jars 2 Plain ware jugs 1 Plain ware uncertain shape 8 Gritty ware large jars 22 Possible Early and Middle Bronze Age wares 4 The totals reflect combined counts of rim sherds in the following units: sector vw3, Beh. 25, 28, 350, 353, 356. Catalogue G2/3 Ware 1 Kantharos rim23 Figs. 5, 6 Sector vw3.273:7. Est. Diam. 0.132 m. A quarter of the rim preserved. Fabric pink/orange (2.5YR 6/6), fine. Exterior decorated with two rows of small dots between two horizontal bands. Groove on exterior under band of decoration. Paint uneven, dark brown or orange, on tan ground (5YR 6/4). Interior has streaky brown/orange paint. Early Archaic. 2 Kantharos rim Figs. 5, 6 Sector vw3.292:3. Est. Diam. 0.13 m. An eighth of the rim preserved. Fabric light pink/orange (2.5YR 6/6), fine. Exterior has a band of linked Vs along the top of the rim. Red/orange paint (10R 5/6) on pink/orange ground (2.5YR 6/6). Interior has red/orange paint. Early Archaic. 3 Kantharos rim Figs. 5, 6 Sector vw3.273:9. Est. Diam. 0.10 m. A quarter of the rim preserved. Broken 23. In the catalogue, sherds are near the handle. Fabric pink/orange (2.5YR 6/6), fine. Rim has a thin brown band identified by sector designation (vw3) and Behälter number, followed by a (5YR 3/2) along the top. Ridge on exterior is marked with three horizontal bands. colon and the individual sherd number. Tan/pink ground (5YR 7/4). Interior has streaky red/brown paint. Fabric and paint colors are described Early Archaic. using the 2000 edition of the Munsell Soil Color Charts (New Windsor, N.Y.). 4 Kantharos rim Figs. 5, 6 Blegen shape numbers are those used in Sector vw3.286:3. Est. Diam. 0.122 m. An eighth of the rim preserved. Fabric Troy III. All sherds are currently stored pink/orange (2.5YR 6/6), fine. Step pattern along the rim. Thin horizontal band in the Troy depots.