PROJECT ON THE MIDDLE HELLADIC ARGOLID A report on the 2004 season

Sofia Voutsaki, Sevi Triantaphyllou and Eleni Milka

2004 saw the initiation of a new 5-year project on the Middle Helladic Argolid, financed by the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) and the University of Groningen, the Netherlands. In the previous issue of Pharos (Voutsaki et al. 2004) we presented the main aims of the project and methods employed,' and focused especially on the pilot analysis of the burial data from Lerna. Here we would like to present the work on the funerary data undertaken in 2004, and explain further the rationale behind the analytical methods we use.

I . The integration of archaeological, osteological and biomolecular data

The use of methods adopted from the natural sciences in Greek archaeology is not new. However, there is a certain tendency (by no means universal) to segregate the purely archaeological analyses from the scientific analyses undertaken alongside. In this way, the data on provenance, or chemical composition, or the diet of prehistoric population are presented in an Appendix and, as a result, are not always integrated into archaeological interpretations. We firmly believe that scientific methods need to be fully integrated into archaeological research, not only during the final stages of interpretation, but also during the initial stages of planning and setting up the research design. In this way, a real collaboration between the scholars undertaking the scientific analyses and the archaeologists will be achieved.

Ideally the collaboration should start already during excavation. In our project, however, we are dealing exclusively with old material which has been uncovered a long time ago. Even so, collaboration between physical anthropologists, molecular biologists and archaeologists is crucial during the initial selection of samples for analysis. Here we would like to present both the process of selection for each of the methods we are using, as well as the rationale behind it.

I More information on the project can be found on www.MHArgolid.nL

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1 The radiocarbon analysis

The aim of the radiocarbon analysis of human bones is to build up a compendium of dates for each MH site in the Argive plain. For this reason, an extensive sampling programme is undertaken: Six skeletons per ceramic sub-phase (i.e. 2 x MH I early, 2 x MH I middle, 2 x MH I late, etc.) are sampled. For instance, we have sampled 18 skeletons from Lema, as the site was used during the entire MH period. Of course, not all skeletons can be dated firmly, let alone placed in the early, middle or late stages of a ceramic sub-phase. For this reason, we have selected only skeletons which can be attributed to a specific ceramic sub-phase and which have a reasonably clear stratigraphic context. In addition, we have only included tombs whose date has been controlled and revised by Dr Carol Zerner, Z As many of these tombs stand in a stratigraphic relation with other graves or architectural features, the sequence of absolute dates we hope to build up will help unraveling the complex stratigraphy of the intramural cemetery at Lerna.

In the case of Aspis in Argos, a settlement and intramural cemetery used primarily during the later MH phases, no such complete compendium can be set up, and only 7 samples have been taken. Nevertheless, an effort has been made to include all reasonably well presented skeletons, and especially those which will allow us to solve stratigraphic problems. This would be particularJy important at Aspis, as the relation between graves and houses is well documented at this site (see below).

The analysis will be carried out by Dr Albert J. Nijboer, Groningen Institute of Archaeology, in collaboration with the Centre for Isotope research, Groningen. We have decided to use the AMS method, a form of mass spectrometry, rather than the conventional dating method. While the latter is more accurate, it requires a much larger sample (200-250 grs) than the AMS method (for which a sample of 2-5 grs, taken from ribs, undiagnostic bone, or bone fragments, is sufficient). This decision has been taken because of the need to preserve the skeletal material for future research - an important consideration, especially in the case of Lerna which is one of the few well documented and complete skeletal assemblages of the Aegean.

It is hoped that a more refined absolute chronology will help us to understand social change during the MH period. However, it also has important ramifications for the debate surrounding the date of the Thera eruption in the beginning of the Late Bronze Age.

2 The ancient DNA analysis

The analysis of ancient DNA from the MH cemeteries will enable us to identify (or confirm) the sex of the deceased, and to detect family relationships between individuals and burial groupings.

Ancient DNA analysis is a powerful and accurate technique. However, ancient DNA may be poorly preserved or damaged, especially in the case of intramural burials.' In our project, we will only be using teeth as samples, as the chances of preservation of DNA in teeth are higher than in long bones. In order to assess the preservation of a DNA in the skeletal material from Lema, a pilot

2 We would like to thank Dr Zerner for providing us with the revised dates for the Lerna tombs in advance of

publication. '

3 The problems of contamination. and the measures taken to ensure genuine results are described in Voutsaki et al. (2004,77).

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analysis of 12 samples is carried out. These 12 skeletons were selected on the basis of their preservation, but also on the basis of their contextual relations with other burials. We have sampled only adult skeletons which still preserved several teeth, and which came from undisturbed graves. As we wanted to increase the likelihood of observing kinship relations, we have included skeletons found in clusters of graves which sometimes shared the same orientation, contained offerings or multiple burials, or had other exceptional features, etc. (see also below, under section III).

The analysis will only be expanded if the first results prove encouraging. In this case, a different sampling strategy will be adopted, and we will make an effort to include skeletons from different burial clusters, age and sex groups, 'wealth' categories and periods of use of the Lerna cemetery.

This sampling strategy has been devised primarily for Lerna, because of the need to preserve this urrique assemblage for future researchers. In the case of the Aspis, we are dealing with a small number of skeletons. For this reason, all burials which still had teeth preserved (5) have been sampled.

The analysis will be undertaken by Prof. Sofia Kouidou-Andreou, Department of Biological Chemistry, and Dr Leda Kovatsi, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology,

both at the Medical School, University of Thessaloniki,

3 The analysis of stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen

The analysis of stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen will enable us to reconstruct differences in diet and nutrition. Dietary patterns reflect the availability of natural resources, but also subsistence management and possible social inequalities.

In order to acquire as complete a picture of dietary variation as possible, we have decided to undertake an extensive programme of analysis. While the sampling method is destructive, only a very small quantity (5-10 gIS) of rib or other bone fragments is necessary. In principle, we take 8 samples per age category. We use the following age categories:

0-1 years: 1- 6 years:

6 -12 years: 12 - 18 years: 18 - 30 years: 30 - 40 years: 40 - 50 years: 50 + years:

neonate infant

child juvenile young adult prime adult mature adult old adult

As a result, we have taken 46 samples from Lerna and 7 from Aspis (we have not taken samples from neonates, as their preservation is very poor). In the future, we plan to expand the analysis and take samples from other Argive sites. This will enable us to compare dietary patterns between burial groups, social groups, age and sex categories and whole communities in an entire region.

The analysis of stable isotopes of nitrogen and carbon will be carried out by Prof. Michael Richards, Palaeodietary Research Group, Department of Archaeological Sciences, University of Bradford.

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To conclude:

OUf aim is to integrate, rather than merely juxtapose the archaeological: osteological and biomolecular data. For this reason, we undertake an extensive sampling programme which will eventually include all the main sites of the Argive plain. In order to facilitate comparison, we adopt a systematic and flexible sampling strategy, based on explicit criteria, but also adaptable to the special conditions prevailing in each site.

II The re-examination of the Middle Helladic skeletal remains from Lerna

The anthropological study of skeletal material from MH Lerna held at the Museum of Argos was carried out by Dr Sevi Triantaphyllou in the spring/summer of 2004. A total of 81 individuals (LER 1 to LER 81 - following Angel's numbering) has been re-examined.

The work involved:

1. The cleaning, repacking and re-labeling of the skeletons;

2. The re-examination of the skeletons;

3. Sampling for stable isotope analysis of carbon and nitrogen and microwear analysis.

1 Cleaning, re-packing, re-labeling

During Angel's initial study, the skeletons, or their individual parts had been packed in paper boxes, which in turn had been placed in large wooden crates. Many of the paper boxes and sev-

. eral of the wooden crates had started to disintegrate and were even sometimes extensively damaged, because of the humid conditions and the effect of mice and insects .. The typewritten lists of skeletons contained in each crate presented similar problems, while the information written on the. paper boxes had in several cases become faint and illegible. After consultation with Prof. M. Wieneke, director of the Lerna excavations, and Mrs A. Banaka, responsible for the Argos Museum, we decided to re-pack and re-label the material. In this way, the better preservation of the material is ensured, and access to the material by specialists in the future is facilitated.

In addition, the skeletal remains from Lerna (except the skulls, pelvises and pathological bones) had never been washed Or cleaned properly. There were even cases where bone material (sometimes containing small finds) had remained attached on dry earth lumps. For this reason, we decided that all the bones had first to be cleaned,

Skulls as well as pelvises were reconstructed by Angel, and preservative was sometimes applied in large quantities. This was, of course, the prevailing practice in the 1960s and 1970s. We decided not to interfere with Angel's conservation methods, as we fully recognize the significance of his pioneering research.

Our work therefore involved:

a) Dry cleaning of all the skeletal remains with soft brush or toothbrush and careful washing of all the teeth with aceton (where preservatives were applied by Angel) and ethanol.

b) Removing the animal bones, shells, pottery fragments and small finds which were mixed with the human remains.

c) Packing the skeletal material in paper bags according to anatomical body part and side (e.g. left! right hand, left/right arm). These paper bags were placed in plastic crates, which can be transported easily and can also be piled up without causing any damage on the skeletal material.

d) Labeling the paper bags with permanent black ink on yellow plastic cards.

)

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2 The re-examination of the skeletal material

The re-examination of the skeletal remains by Dr Sevi Triantaphyllou focused firstly on the skeletal inventory of each skeleton and secondly, on the application of modem methods and techniques for sexing, ageing and recording of muscolo-skeletal stress indicators, metabolic stress factors and pathological lesions (Buikstra et. al. 1994).

. Our first aim was to provide a full skeletal inventory, as no such inventory was provided in Angel's (1971) study. Our skeletal inventory contains the detailed description of the skeletal elements which are present in each skeleton as well as information about their completeness. Due to the fragmentary state of the skeletons, the total prevalence of all stress factors and pathological conditions will be counted by skeletal element and not by individual as Angel did in his study. The skeletal inventory will provide the total of each skeletal element present out of which the abnormal cases will be calculated. The skeletal inventory will also allow us to compare the MH population of Lema with the other human bone assemblages included in our project (from Aspis, and eventually Asine a_nd the Argos 'tumuli"), as well as with other case study populations in the Aegean." A basic recording form for each skeleton with a graphical skeletal inventory, as well as information on sexing, ageing and pathological conditions will be included in a database which will be placed on the-website of the project."

Ifwe compare the current re-examination with Angel's pioneering work (1971), we can make

the following preliminary observations:

There are no major discrepancies with regard to the identification of Sex. However, in our study sexing has been applied only to the adult individuals over 18 years old by when the anatomical features for sexing have been fully developed (Steele and Bramblett 1988).

There are relatively significant differences in the estimation of age, especially among the adult individuals above 25 years old. Our measurements Were based on the auricular surface (Lovejoyet. al. 1985) and the Suchey-Brooks pubic symphysis ageing system (Katz and Suchey 1986; Brooks and Suchey 1989).

There is an over-interpretation of cranial injuries in Angel's study (e.g. 18 LER: nose fracture, 23 LER: wound on orbit); we include here also the "operation on the frontal bone" ofLER 33. We believe that the evidence for trepanation Which Angel suggested is not overwhelming. It is possible that the symmetrical round cranial opening may have been cut recently during excavationror during post-excavation treatment, as the edges on the cranial vault are consistent with fresh cutting.

In Angel's study there is an under-representation of enamel hypoplasia defects on teeth as well as of periosteal reactions on the post-cranial skeleton involving especially the lower limbs. Much of the post-cranial skeleton had not been cleaned, while in some dentitions preservatives were applied even if they had not been cleaned and were still COVered with soil. As a result, these pathological lesions which provide significant evidence for metabolic stress factors during life (Aufderheide and Rodriguez-Martin 1998), were under-represented in Angel's study.

4 For a. study comparing skeletal populations and the methods used to standardize them, see Triantaphyllou 200l. 5 www.MHArgolid.n1.

)

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3 Sampling for stable isotope analysis of carbon and nitrogen and dental microwear analysis

As already mentioned above, 53 samples of bone collagen have been taken from rib fragments of individuals of both sex groups and all age categories in order to define their isotopic signal and to investigate possible differences at the intra-cemetery level (Privat et al. 2002; Richards et al. 2002).

Also, 10 impressions of the occlusal surface of second mandibular molars have. been taken in order to conduct a dental microwear analysis." Dental microwear analysis involves the use of SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope) and recording of microfeatures ona digitized programme. The method has been broadly applied on animal teeth and primates and to a lesser degree on humans (Nystrom et al. 2004). While stable isotope analysis will trace long term dietary input of the specific individual, dental rnicrowear will reflect short-term intake - what we may call the "last supper". The combined stable isotopes and microwear analyses will therefore give us invaluable insights into dietary variation in MH times.

The analysis of pathologies and dietary variation will enable us to reconstruct individual life histories of the inhabitants of MH Lerna. This information will then be integrated with the archaeological data, to which we now turn.

III The archaeological analysis of the funerary data

During 2004 a pilot analysis of the funerary data from the cemeteries of Lerna and Aspis was carried out by Eleni Milka, PhD candidate, Groningen Institute of Archaeology, the. Netherlands.

First, the burial offerings held at the Museum of Argos were systematically re-examined and photographed. The old excavation photographs were also studied and an electronic archive of all photos was created. Subsequently, all the available archaeological and anthropological? information from the217 graves from Lerna (Caskey 1954; 1955; 1956; 1957; 1958, Banks 1967, Blackburn 1970, Zerner 1978; 1990, Nordquist 1979, Angel 1971) and the 14 graves from Aspis (Touchais 1975; 1976; 1978; 1980; 1984; 1990; 1991, Philippa-Touehais 2002, Philippa-Touchais et al. 2002) were encoded into a relational data base. The type, size, construction and orientation of the tomb, the burial offerings, the sex and the age of the diseased and the position and orientation of the body together with any evidence. of ritual activities are examined in order to detect variation among the burials.

This analysis has led to some interesting new observations on the Lerna burials:

During the early phases" (MH I - II) adults were buried only in pits, while sub-adults both in pits and jars (as noticed already by Nordquist 1979, 20). During the later phases (MH III - LH I) sub-adults were buried both in pits and cists, while adults were buried in cists with the exception of 4 individuals who were buried in pits. We should, of course, add the two shaft

6 This analysis is carried out by Dr S. Triantaphyllou during her tenure as INSTAP Postdoctoral Fellow 2005. It is therefore part of a separate project financed by the.Institute of Aegean Prehistory, New York.

, As the anthropological re-examination of the skeletons from Lerna is still in progress (see above), the information on sex and age at death is still based on Angel (1971). The results of the re-examination will be incorporated into the archaeological analysis once Dr Triantaphyllou's study is completed.

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graves which are in use in LH I; unfortunately both are robbed, and the human remains have been removed.

As regards the mode of disposal, single burials constituted the norm, but in some cases (18 graves) a few individuals were buried together (Blackburn 1970, 18). It is interesting that in contrast to the situation in other sites where multiple burials were more common towards the end of the MH period, in Lerna multiple burials are evenly distributed across the MH period."

The re-examination of the excavation photographs revealed that more individuals were buried on their back with their legs contracted either on left or right than mentioned in Blackburn's (1970) dissertation (57 instead of 33).

The total number of individuals buried in prone position proved also to be higher. In total 12 (instead of 8 ~ Blackburn 1970, passim) skeletons were buried on their stomach, 8 of which belong to double or multiple burials. Furthermore, 6 out of 18 double or multiple burials contain at least one individual lying on his/her stomach.

During the later phases (MH III ~ LH I) most males were laid on their right side and females on their left. 10

The majority of vases found in single burials accompanied sub-adults. Interestingly, male burials contained double the number of vases found in female burials.

Most of the non-pottery finds come also from sub-adult graves. However, female burials contained twice as many non-pottery offerings as male graves.

It is interesting that almost no two graves contain the same offerings (Nordquist 1979, 32); the only instance of standardization is the existence of some pottery sets (Nordquist, 1999, 2002). One of the questions we would like to address in the future is when this process of standardization sets in.

Apart from the differences between individual graves and age / sex categories, II differentiation was also observed between burial groups. Both in the early and late phases of the MH period, most of the 'exceptional' graves ~ i.e. graves which contain more that one skeleton, or skeletons contracted on their stomach or extended on their back ~ belong to the same burial group". Further analysis is necessary in order to understand the significance of these differences.

Special attention was given to the association of graves with houses in both Aspis and Lerna, as both cemeteries are intramural. Aspis is especially interesting, because, in contrast with Lerna, we have a better picture of the position of the graves underneath particular houses or in the open spaces between them (Touchais 1976; 1978; 1996)13 Furthermore, ~e intramural burials in As-

H For the chronological development of the different grave types only the graves for which we have a definite date (according to C. Zemel', personal communication) have been analysed until now (154 out of the 217 graves).

9 MH I - MH IT: 9 graves; MH III - LH 1: 7 graves; MH: 2 graves.

10 A similar pattern has been noted by Nordquist (1979, 17), although she refers to the period asa whole. It should be stressed that Nordquist uses Angel's (1971) sex identifications for children as well, while in our study these data are not taken into account (see above).

II For a discussion of age and sex differentiation in the Lerna cemetery, see also Voutsaki 2004. 12 One example are the MH I -IT graves BE30, DE68, DE71-n, DE52, DE28.

13 We would like to thank Prof G. Touchais and Mrs A. Philippa- Touchais for giving us information on the Aspis burials in advance of publication.

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pis are contemporary-with some of the burials in the extramural 'tumulus' cemeteries of Argos (Protonotariou-Deilaki 1980). We will, therefore, be able to compare practices in different burial grounds.

Although the burial sample from Aspis is small (14 burials), the following observations have

been made:

Under the floor of houses mainly females" (3 burials) were buried (and one infant in a jar burial).

4 out of 5 females were buried on their left side. The only positively male skeleton was lying on his right side.

The graves form clusters in the open spaces between the houses.

There seems to be a differentiation in the age composition of the two burial groups. One group consists of individuals older than 15 years old, while in the other group mainly infants were buried (the only adult of this group was buried together with an infant).

The association of the graves with houses together with the clustering of the graves at both sites will be used to test our main working hypothesis: that these grave groups represent kinship groups. The ancient DNA analysis of the skeletons (see above) will provide a further test.

The integration of the archaeological.biomolecularand skeletal data from the main MH cemeteries will offer us a unique opportunity to study the transformation of the mortuary practices at the level of the burial group, the community and the region as a whole.

Dr Sofia Voutsaki Groningen Institute of Archaeology Poststraat 6 9712 ER Groningen The Netherlands s. voutsaki@let.rug.nl

Dr Sevi Triantaphyllou Sheffield Centre for Aegean Archaeology Northgate House

West Street Sheffield 51 4ET United Kingdom sevitr@oteneLgr

Ms Eleni Milka Groningen Institute of Archaeology Poststraat 6 9712 ER Groningen The Netherlands e.milka@let.rug.nl

14 For the anthropological. study of the Aspis skeletons see Triantaphyllou in Philippa- Touchais et at. 2002.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the Ephor at the 41h Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities, Mrs Zoi Aslamatzidhou, and the Department of Conservation, Ministry of Culture for granting us permission to examine and take samples from the human skeletons from Lerna and Aspis, We would also like to acknowledge the assistance of the staff at the 41h Ephorate, particularly Mrs. A. Banaka, Mrs E. Pappi and Dr A. Papadimitriou. We thank the American School of Classical Studies, Prof. M. Wieneke, Prof. E. Banks, and Dr C. Zemer for their permission to re-examine and take samples from the Lema material, and the French School, Prof. G. Touchais and Mrs A. Philippa-Touchais for allowing to take samples from the Aspis burials. We are particularly grateful to Dr Zemel', Prof. Touchais and Mrs Philippa- Touchais for giving us additional data in advance of publication and for helping us in every possible way. Last, but not least, our thanks to the director of the Dutch Institute in Athens, Dr G.J. van Wijngaarden, for his help and advice.

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