Early Bronze Age Burial Deposits at the Ayia Triada Cave at Karystos, Euboia: Tentative Interpretations

New Data on Southern Euboean Landscapes: Results of the Norwegian Archaeological Survey in the Karystia

“…There are no observable changes in the fabric between the FN and EBA phases, which is consistent with observations made elsewhere in the Karystia (e.g. Cullen et al 2013; Mavridis and Tankosić 2009; 2016a; 2016b; Tankosić and Mathioudaki 2011). All pottery collected from prehistoric findspots was made of local clays, either medium or coarse in quality.…”

“…The analysis of this impressive assemblage provides us with clues regarding the use and procurement of lithics in the area. The large quantity of obsidian artefacts, which constitute the vast majority of the assemblage, indicates that obsidian was the primary raw material for lithic production, as at other FN (Cullen et al 2013; Mavridis and Tankosić 2016a) and EBA sites in Euboea (Tankosić 2011; Mavridis and Tankosić 2016b; Tankosić and Katsianis 2017). Moreover, judging by the large numbers of debitage pieces at some of the findspots, paired with evidence of most of the phases of the reduction sequence, we can conclude that extensive reduction did occur in these areas.…”

Lipid Analysis of Pottery from the Early Bronze Age II Burials at Ayia Triada Cave, Southern Euboea, Greece: Evidence for Ritualized Consumption?

“…Layers 3–5 represent EBA use (Mavridis and Tankosić 2016, 230–231). Layer 3 contained mostly human remains; layer 4 contained human remains, animal bones, pottery, and other finds; whereas layer 5b is defined by abundant carbonized plant remains (Figure 1B) (Mavridis and Tankosić 2016, 217–224). The pottery assemblage is characterized by fine and semi‐coarse wares (i.e.…”

“…Because most of the human and animal remains from layer 4 were found with only centimeters of variation in depth, it seems likely that the individuals were deposited during a relatively short time span (Mavridis and Tankosić 2016, 224). This assertion is supported by the absence of chronologically indicative stylistic variation in the associated material culture and radiocarbon dates indicating a time span within EBA II between 2,890/2,870–2,492 BC (Mavridis and Tankosić 2016, 224, 230). Although this timeline (ca.…”

Cave sanctuaries in the Bronze Age Cyclades? New evidence from the island of Paros, Greece

“…Burials in caves during the Early and Late Bronze Age are also known (e.g. Lolos 2000: 29–32; Mavridis & Tankosic 2016). Possible ritual activities have been suggested at Panormos Cave in the town of Ithaka, and at Corycian Cave at Delphi (Benton 1938/1939; Lerat 1984).…”