Excavating an Archaic Necropolis in Kefaloniá
Dr. Geoffrey Schmalz
SFU Department of History
Dr. Geoffrey Schmalz
SFU Department of History
Dr. Schmalz will present results of the excavation of the principal necropolis of the ancient city-state of Pronnoi, one of the four city-states that flourished on Kefaloniá during the Archaic and Classical periods. This SFU project, conducted in the fall of 2008, was designed in part as a ‘salvage excavation’ carried out by SFU on behalf of the Kefaloniá Archaeological Service. At the same time, the project incorporated a formal program of initial excavation. Uncovered was a large, rich, and densely featured cemetery of largely the late Archaic period (ca. 550-500 B.C.), probably representing the burials of ancient Pronnoi’s elite inhabitants. Within the principal area of investigation, numerous graves were found in which pithoi were used as burial vessels; these were often filled with wealthy grave goods, including such gender-specific articles as loom-weights and agricultural tools, as well as lovely pottery imported from Corinth and Athens.
