Mycenaean Occupants of Ancient Kallithea
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Mycenaean Occupants of Ancient Kallithea: Understanding a Population‘s Health, Culture, and Lifestyle Through Bioarchaeological Analysis by Emily Graff A thesis presented to the University of Waterloo in fulfillment of the thesis requirement for the degree of Master of Arts in Public Issues Anthropology Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, 2011 © Emily Graff 2011 Declaration I hereby declare that I am the sole author of this thesis. This is a true copy of the thesis, including any required final revisions, as accepted by my examiners. I understand that my thesis may be made electronically available to the public. ii Abstract The Mycenaean cemetery at Kallithea Laganidia is the first comprehensive study of a cemetery sample from the periphery of the Mycenaean world. Previous studies have focused primarily on remains from palace centers. Even though it is known that the Mycenaeans populated Achaea , very little is known about this more rural population. Archaeologically and bioarchaeologically the region of Achaea has been neglected by formal and organized research, and as a result almost nothing is known about the population. This project has three aims. First, to provide new demographic data about sex, age, health, and the culture of these Mycenaeans. Secondly, via osteological analysis, to examine the hypothesis that the social stratification indicated by the associated grave goods in the tombs is reflected in the spatial orientation of each tomb and the health status of the individuals buried in the graves. Finally, to address the issue of ―orphaned‖ archaeological collections, excavated in rescue operations, which then languish in storage for years or decades. The Kallithea Laganidia cemetery was in use from LHIIIA to LHIIIC and consists of one tholos and 23 chamber tombs. The tholos is a monumental high status tomb, and was in use both before and after the construction and use of the chamber tombs. Five of the chamber tombs were selected as a representative sample of the cemetery for this thesis. The tombs contained both men and women, and adults and children were represented among the tombs, indicating that they should provide a reasonable cross section of the population that buried their dead at Kallithea Laganidia. This osteological data showed and confirmed that the status differences seen in the grave goods from the tombs are also reflected in the tombs according to spatial distribution. iii The varying quality of burial offerings among the tombs of Kallithea Laganidia suggest that the tombs closer to the tholos contain burials of the socially elite, and the tombs farther away from the tholos contain burials of lower social classes. The pathology data collected, and more specifically the dental pathology data, do reflect social stratification among the sample‘s five tombs, particularly when looking at antemortem tooth loss and severe dental wear. In addition, there are indications of status or behaviour differences between the sexes. Kallithean women seem to have been exposed to infection during life more often than men. Women have higher rates of infectious disease, and indications of more antemortem cranial trauma than men. Also, the presence of men, women, and children among secondary burials within these tombs suggested that there is a familial or linear tie within each tomb. The Kallithea Laganidia cemetery has the potential to yield new and informative data about the Achaean Mycenaean population. From this small sampling of 38 burials from five tombs, already the demography and paleopathology of this peripheral group is beginning to be deciphered . iv Acknowledgements Many people contributed toward this project‘s completion and to every person I am very grateful. First and foremost, I would like to thank my thesis committee for their patience, wisdom, and support throughout this endeavor. Dr Maria Liston, my advisor since I arrived in Canada at the University of Waterloo provided me the tools and discipline necessary to complete this project successfully and still with a smile on my face. She believed in my abilities and always encouraged me. Dr. Sherry Fox allowed me to work on the Kallithea material. Without her, not only would I have not been able to gather bioarchaeological data in Greece, but also would not have been able to work as efficiently and diligently as I did. Her positive attitude kept my spirits up and the stress of data collection down. Dr. Robert MacDonald helped me and my committee in a time of need. He not only accepted the challenge of being on my committee but also was excited about my project. His energy enabled me to think about Kallithea‘s archaeological aspects more clearly and succinctly. Special thanks to Evy Papadopoulou-Chrysikopolou and Dr. Thanasis J. Papadopoulos. Their insistence to have an archaeological and bioarchaeological collaboration enabled this project to begin. Evy never failed to respond to every question I had about the excavation and archaeological material. She also provided all the excavation material I requested and more. Working with the excavator director and excavator is ideal for bioarchaeological investigations, but they have exceeded all of my expectations and I hope to continue our collaboration in the future. I would also like to thank the Wiener Laboratory at the American School of Classical Studies, Loring Hall, and all the ASCSA regular members who I encountered during my v research. Without the Travel Grant funding from the Wiener Laboratory I would not have been able to come to Athens. This grant enabled me to not only complete my research in Athens but also focus on my thesis when I came back to Canada. The American School of Classical Studies and Loring Hall provided me a home and peers that could not have better suited my needs while living in Athens. The University of Waterloo‘s Department Of Anthropology has been supporting me since the day I arrived in Canada with my Uhaul. The faculty, staff, and students provided an international home away from home. Thank you to the faculty for always checking in, being supportive, and most importantly available. Thank you Allyson Rowat for always being three steps ahead. To my Graduate and Undergraduate peers, thank you for always challenging and teaching me. Some of the most important things I have learned during my time at University of Waterloo is from them. They showed me different ways to think about and view the world. Thank you to all of the Mount Lykaion Excavation and Survey Project members. Dr. David Romano has been an unwavering pillar of wisdom and support since 2007. He has always believed in me. I am indebted to my family and wonderful friends. They all have supported my adventure in graduate school and have never stopped encouraging my interests. vi For my family- My Mother, Sandra My Brother, Benjamin My Sister, Linda vii Table of Contents List of Figures ........................................................................................................................... xi List of Tables............................................................................................................................ xii CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................. 1 Organization of Thesis ........................................................................................................... 4 CHAPTER 2: THE ACHAEA REGION OF THE PELOPONNESE ....................................... 5 Bronze Age Chronology and Terminology ............................................................................ 7 Burial Customs ....................................................................................................................... 9 Tomb Chronology ................................................................................................................ 10 Ancestor Veneration ............................................................................................................ 13 The Social Stratification of Tombs ...................................................................................... 14 Tomb Structures ............................................................................................................... 15 Tomb Contents ................................................................................................................. 16 Spatial Distribution of Tombs .......................................................................................... 16 Social Stratification at Kallithea Laganidia ......................................................................... 17 CHAPTER 3: MATERIALS ................................................................................................... 23 The Kallithea Laganidia Cemetery and Burials ................................................................... 23 CHAPTER 4: METHODS ....................................................................................................... 29 Determining Sex and Age .................................................................................................... 33 Methods of Determining Age in Adults ........................................................................... 33 Methods of Determining Sex in Adults ........................................................................... 34 Methods of Determining Age and Sex in Subadults ........................................................ 35 Issue of Stature Assessment ................................................................................................