A Greek Cave Sanctuary in Sphakia SW Crete

Agiasmatsi: A Greek Cave Sanctuary in Sphakia, SW Crete
Author(s): Jane Francis, Simon Price, Jennifer Moody and Lucia Nixon
Source: The Annual of the British School at Athens, Vol. 95 (2000), pp. 427-471
Published by: British School at Athens
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/30103443
Accessed: 28-09-2015 09:55 UTC
REFERENCES
Linked references are available on JSTOR for this article:
http://www.jstor.org/stable/30103443?seq=1&cid=pdf-reference#references_tab_contents
You may need to log in to JSTOR to access the linked references.
Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at http://www.jstor.org/page/
info/about/policies/terms.jsp
JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content
in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship.
For more information about JSTOR, please contact support@jstor.org.
British School at Athens is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to The Annual of the British
School at Athens.
http://www.jstor.org
This content downloaded from 139.184.14.159 on Mon, 28 Sep 2015 09:55:25 UTC
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
AGIASMATSI: A GREEK CAVE SANCTUARY IN
SPHAKIA, SW CRETE1
(PLATES 67--82)
THEAgiasmatsicave is near the south coast of western Crete above the Frangokastelloplain.
The cave, at 296 m, is on the west side of a small, unnamed gorge that cuts the steep limestone
hills rising up from the almost flat Frangokastelloplain. It is about I km east-north-eastof the
modern village of Kapsodasos and about 3 km north-north-east of the Venetian fort of
Frangokastello(FIG.I). The site, which was discovered in 1963, is normally thought of as a
Prehistoriccave sanctuary,rich in alleged bulls' horns and phalluses, but work here conducted
by the Sphakia Survey shows that the site was in fact used for ritual purposes much later,
primarilyin the Hellenistic and early Roman periods.
The cave is exciting for several reasons. Two of its principal types of artefacts, multiple
nozzle lamps and ladles (whose handles constitute the alleged horns and phalluses) are rare
outside this site. Second, fabric analysis has enabled significantprogress to be made with the
interpretationof the pottery. Third, cave worship in this period is not well known on Crete.
Finally, intensive exploration of the region in which the cave lies by the Sphakia Survey
SWeare most grateful to the people of Sphakia;to Maria Out = Outside Cave
Andreadaki-Vlazaki, Vanna Niniou-Kindeli, and Stavroula I) = Diameter
Markoulakiof the 25th Ephoratein Khania for facilitatingthe MPD = Maximum PreservedDimensions
projectat every stage; to CarolineWilliams,Jacques Perreault, Th = Thickness
David Rupp, and David Jordan, successive directors of the MPL = Maximum PreservedLength
CanadianArchaeologicalInstituteat Athens;and to those who M/F = Medium/ Fine
have funded the work: the Social Sciences and HIumanities BG = Black gloss
ResearchCouncil of Canada; Queen's Universityat Kingston; Int. = Interior
UniversityResearchFund, Universityof New Brunswick;Vice- Ext. = Exterior
President'sFund, Universityof New Brunswickat SaintJohn; bs = Body Sherd
the Institute for Aegean Prehistory (New York);the Craven ILCV= Large Closed Vessel
Committee and the Emergency Research Fund (Oxford); / =- 'or'
Baylor University. Kathy May, based at the INSTAP East -- 'to'
Crete Center and member of the INSTAP publicationteam, Callaghan 1978 = P Callaghan, 'KRS 1976: Excavations
took the finds photographs. Versions of this research were at a shrine of Glaukos, Knossos', BSA73: I-30.
presented by Jane Francis at the Eighth International Callaghan 1981 = 'The Little Palace Well and Knossian
CretologicalCongress (Sept. 1996)and the Fifth International potteryof the laterthirdand secondcenturiesBe',BSA76:35-58.
Congresson HellenisticCeramics(Apr.1997). Coldstream 1973=J. N. Coldstream, Knossos:TheSanctuary
The followingabbreviationsare used throughoutthis article: ofl)emeter(BSA Supp. 8, London).
PH = Prehistoric(3000ooo-ooo BC) Faure 1967 = P. Faure, 'Sur trois sortes de sanctuaires
M = Minoan crdtois',BCH 9i: I1I4-50o.
G = Geometric (9th-late 7th c. BC) Faure 1969 = P. Faure, 'Sur trois sortes de sanctuaries
A = Archaic (late 7th-early 5th c. BCe) cretois (suite)',BCH 93: 174-213.
C = Classical (early5th-4th c. BC) Rutkowski and Nowicki 1996 = B. Rutkowski and K.
H = Hellenistic (3rd-Ist c. Be) Nowicki, The PsychroCaveand OtherSacredGrottoesin Crete
R =Roman (Ist c. BC--7thc. AD) (Studies and Monographs in Mediterranean Archaeology
B = Byzantine (7th c. AD-I204) and Civilization, 2nd ser. I;Warsaw).
V = Venetian (AD 1204-1669) Sackett 1992 = H. L. Sackett, Knossos.FromGreekCity to
T = Turkish(An i669-I900oo) RomanColony:Excavations at theUnexplored
Mansion(BSA Supp.
Mod = Modern (Igoo-present) 21, London).
E = Early Tyree 1974 = E. L. Tyree, Cretan Sacred Caves:
L = Late Archaeological Evidence. PhD diss. University of Missouri.
428 JANE FRANCIS ETAL.
"h
hN'
Heraki
Sphakia
0 1E8km
Madares
/ Mt f
Askyphou
Pkaes,
SamariaGo e
.2000m/
lr
1O000m
PolkiklaE Araden1 aAnopolis Aglasmatsi
ar PatslanoL
Phoinix. KhoraSphakion ApE~odases)~
Frangokastelol
0 10km
FIG.I. Map of Sphakia with Crete inset (drawnby SRFP).
enables us to place the cave in the context of the contemporary settlement pattern. The
consistent recording of the cave and the settlements, along with fabric analysis of the pottery,
reconfirm the value of archaeological survey.
The overall objective of the Sphakia Survey is to reconstruct the sequence of human activity
in Sphakia, from the time that people arrived in the area, up to AD 1900, the end of the
Turkish period in Crete.2 From its inception, the Survey was conceived as an interdisciplinary
2
Thanks to a generous permit obtained from the Greek Views,32, n.s. 7 (1988), 159-73; L. Nixon, J.
classique/Classical
Archaeological Service through the Canadian Moody, S. Price, and O. Rackham, 'Archaeologicalsurvey in
Archaeological Institute at Athens, researchers began Sphakia, Crete', Echosdu mondeclassique/ClassicalViews,33,
working in Sphakia in I987. The Survey is co-directed by n.s. 8 (s989), 2o1-i5; L. Nixon, J. Moody, S. Price, O.
Lucia Nixon and Jennifer Moody. Fieldworkwas conducted Rackham, and V Niniou-Kindeli, Archaeological survey in
in I987-90, 1992; final site revisiting 1996; study seasons Sphakia, Crete', Echosdu mondeclassique/ClassicalViews,34,
1992-5, 1997-9. For preliminary publications of Survey n.s. 9 213-20; L. Nixon, J. Moody, S. Price, and O.
(199o),
material see: L. Nixon, J. Moody, and O. Rackham, Rackham, 'Rural settlement in Sphakia, Crete', in P.
'Archaeological survey in Sphakia, Crete', Echos du monde Doukellis and L. G. Mendoni (eds), Structures
ruraleset sociitis
AGIASMATSI: A GREEK CAVE SANCTUARY IN SPHAKIA, SW CRETE 429
project. We believe that it is not possible to understand human activity through time, without
a sound knowledge of the local landscape and how it has changed. We have, therefore,
systematically recorded environmental data along with cultural data since 1987. Through
fieldwork we have identified some 312 sites (including villages occupied in 1900), but we view
our job less as putting so many dots on a map, and more as seeing how these loci of human
activity constitute part of a changing cultural landscape.3
The eparchy of Sphakia is a rugged and in some ways remote area. It includes most of the
White Mountains,whose highest point (Mt. Pakhnes)at 2,452 m is only 16 km from the south
coast, and ten major gorges running down to the Libyan Sea. We paid particular attention to the
Frangokastello area (as well as the Anopolis plain). We undertook a systematic survey of selected
portions of the Frangokastello plain and up into the foothills, covering 4 km2 out of 11.5 km2
(35%). As a result we have a good understanding of the changing settlement pattern of this area.
This article is the result of consistent data collection through survey combined with a post-
processualist approach to landscape. One of our main conclusions for Sphakia generally is
that between the Hellenistic/Early Roman period and the Late Roman period there was a
major change in people's preferences for settlement location. We suspected that there must
also be a concomitant change in preferences in the nature and location of cult activities. In
this case, the combination of general systematic survey and the specific investigation of the
cave enables us to set the cave in the context of the changing settlement pattern and to see it
as a key part of the local sacred landscape.4 In the Frangokastello plain, there was a shift from
Greek and Early Roman settlement at the roots of the mountains, with an invisible sacred cave
in the hills, to Late Roman settlements and highly visible basilicas down on the plain.
The analysis begins with an account of the discovery and a description of the cave (I). The
second section focuses on the pottery and other finds from the cave: the method of pottery
analysis (II.1-2), the find spots (II.3), and the eight types of pottery (II.4). The dating of the
pottery and the changing functions of the cave (III) lead to a contextualization of the cave
(IV). The final section (V) is a catalogue of selected finds.
I. DISCOVERY AND DESCRIPTION OF THE CAVE
The cave was no doubt always known to locals, but it was officially 'discovered' only in 1963
by speleologists, on the basis of information from Aristotelis Phoukarakis, the teacher at
antiques(Annaleslitthrairesde l'Universithde Besangon;Paris, The museum study and fabric analysis were primarily the
1994),255-64; iid., 'Surveyingpoleis and largersitesin Sphakia', responsibilityofJane Francis,(buildingon the work ofJennifer
in
W. G. Cavanagh,M. Curtis,et al. (eds),PostMinoanCrete (BSA Moody). Lucia Nixon supervisedthe finds photographydone
Studies 2; London, 1998), 87-95. We have also made a video by Kathy May.Jane Franciswrote sections II, III, and V and
about the survey: L. Nixon and S. Price, The SphakiaSurvey(Greece): part of I; Simon Price and Lucia Nixon wrote the introduction
MethodsandResults(Oxford:EducationalTechnologyResources and sections I and IV, but the article also incorporates
Centre, 1995),and an interactivewebsite:SphakiaSurvey:The importantcontributionson the potterybyJennifer Moody.
Internet Edition, http://sphakia.classics.ox.ac.uk. The final 4 On sacred landscapes see S. E. Alcock and R. Osborne
publicationof the Surveyis nearlycomplete;it will appear,in two (eds), Placing the Gods: Sanctuaries and Sacred Space in Ancient
volumes,from OUP This articleis designedto presentsome of Greece (Oxford, 1994); C. L. Crumley, 'Sacred landscapes:
our methods and to offer a more detailed account of the constructed and conceptualized', in Ashmore and A. B.
W.
Agiasmatsimaterialthanwillbe possiblein the finalpublication. Knapp (eds), Archaeologiesof Landscape:ContemporaryPerspectives
3 The field work on the cave was conducted by various (Oxford and Malden MA, 1999), 269-76. For other recent
members of the Sphakia Survey: Lucia Nixon, Jennifer studies of landscape see P.J. Ucko and R. Layton (eds), The
Moody, Simon Price,Jane Francisand David Crowley (then a Archaeologyand Anthropologyof Landscape:Shapingyour Landscape
student at the University of New Brunswick at Saint John). (London and New York, i999).
430 JANE FRANCIS ET AL.
Patsianos (FIG.2). They dutifully deposited their finds in the Khania Museum.5 Faure visited
the cave in 1965 and 1966 and deposited a stone blade and other items in the museum.6
Subsequent finds, looted in 1967, turned up in the Sitia area,7 but in 1968 Ioannis Tsiphetakis,
a member of the archaeological service, deposited further finds in the Khania Museum. The
cave has been studied by Tyree and by Rutkowski and Nowicki.8 The Sphakia Survey, which
has been conducting a field survey of Sphakia since 1987, has further investigated the cave.
Our first visit, in 1990 by Lucia Nixon and then by other members of the team, was made
possible by the guidance of Andreas Daradoulis from Kapsodasos (now normally resident in
Athens); because of the richness of the material, we visited the site again in 1992. Our work in
the cave, in accordance with the terms of our permit, was restricted to surface finds and did
not involve excavation. The artefacts we collected (c. 500 in number) are now stored with the
other Sphakia Survey material in the Khania Museum annex in the Venetian ship-sheds.
The mouth of the cave, which looks south-east over the Frangokastello plain, is far from
evident to the casual eye (FIG. 3). Indeed we once spent an afternoon scouring the numerous
cave-like holes in the hillside above Kapsodasos, looking in vain for the only real cave in the
area. Below the cave to the south-west is a cave mandra, with a fig nearby. Immediately below
the cave is a sheer rock-face, c. 5 m high, that can be scaled only with difficulty. This hides the
mouth of the cave from below. Above the rock-face and in front of the cave is a flat platform,
between 2 and 7 m wide, with a carob tree growing from the cliff face to the south and three
boulders lined up before the entrance.9 On the platform, and washed down the hillside, are
glazed sherds of the nineteenth century AD, a few ancient sherds (a red ladle handle and a buff
ladle rim) and limestone fragments removed from the cave by previous visitors (FIG. 4).
Just before the mouth of the cave is a small natural niche on the right, with a small scatter
of ancient sherds (not collected). Goat litter is thick on the ground at the entrance, with traces
of burning on the ceiling and exterior of the cave, probably the result of modern use by
shepherds. A very short, low passageway, I m high and 2 m wide, leads steeply down into an
Entrance Chamber (7-8 m wide X 2-4 m deep).'0 The floor of the entrance chamber is
covered in loose, fluffy debris (bat guano and loose dirt lying just on top of the bedrock).
The Main Chamber is reached by two passages from the entrance room: on the right, a
narrow steep slope leads down directly into the room; on the left, a long passage winds at a
higher level behind the main room and joins it, after a drop of c. 1.50 m, at the far end. The
Main Chamber is a large, oval room, with its ceiling sloping down to the corner opposite the
entrance; the right side is closed by the slope of the ceiling, the left side has a gentle slope, but
is separated from the left passage by stalagmites and stalactites. The overall dimensions are
15.30
m X 7.Io0 m X 8 m." In the centre of the room is a large 'island' of limestone (a cut-off
stalagmite) with a fairly flat surface (1.50 m high X 2 m X 2.50 m).2 At the far side of the main
room from its entrance, beyond the 'island', where the floor and ceiling sink down, the floor is
covered again in fluffy bat guano, 5-1o cm deep. This area (nicknamed 'Sink Hole') is
5 A. Phoukarakis, 'EOviij (Khania), 12 Apr., 1963, non slightly smaller: 3 X>6 m.

vidimus; S. Alexiou, Kr. Chron.15 (1963), 412. " Again, these are Faure's dimensions. Ours are smaller:
6 Faure 1967: 135-8. Io X 15 m.
7 Faure 1969: 200. '2 Faure 1967: 135 wonders if this is a new idol or an
8 Tyree 1974: 48-50, 192, 216, 230; Rutkowski and Nowicki oblong altar. He also describes another group of stalagmites
I996: 49. (cf. Faure 1967: 136 fig. 12) as resembling 'vaguely' a group of
9 Cf. Faure 1967: 136 fig.II. a human figure, accompanied by a sort of quadruped (dog?).
toThese are Faure's dimensions; our figures are This 'description'seems to us too personal to be useful.
AGIASMATSI: A GREEK CAVE SANCTUARY IN SPHAKIA, SW CRETE
431
.ruuv
\-i--tr
r I
~SOJ~/
\\~
7
.4..0."
(900
~2~6~
~/60~
~F
;40pj
~~
1' s22Oi
5~2~0/
'\
~f63~f~alt~iin;Jogn~~Ks~odv~;V
'100/
74
,_3+)
,4
,S
,Frangokastello
0 0.S 1km
FIG.2. Map of Frangokastelloarea (drawnby SRFP). I PatsianosKephala. 2 Skaloti ProfitisIlias. 3 Skaloti Teraces. 4 Ag.
Astratigos.5 Ag. Nikitas. The map marksas dots the other sites of the Graeco-Roman period.
FIG.3. Agiasmatsicave from below. The carob tree marks

the entrance to the cave.
exceptionally rich in artefacts, including lamps, ladles, bowls, and cups (densities in a metre
circle of 50+). At the right of the 'island' the floor has more dirt and less guano; the artefacts
here are also dense, but not as dense as in the 'Sink Hole'; they include a tripod foot, fine
wares, ladles, lamps, glass, an Ottoman coin and pottery.
Inner Chamber I is a bridge section, a high rocky passageway, which leads between the
Main Chamber and a small circular room (Inner Chamber II); a large BVT pithos bodysherd,
partially buried in the increasingly wetter earth, was collected from the bridge section (A-38I).
In the circular room (Inner Chamber II) is a natural semi-circular area bounded by tall
stalagmites at the rear and three shorter stalagmites to the left and two to the right (c. I m
across X 50 cm deep). In the damp clayey fill (only 5-8 cm deep) of the semi-circle was a
splendid deposit of pottery: much had decomposed in the damp conditions and all was friable,
but we recovered fine wares, cups, ladles and lamps.
Three further rooms are reached via the Main Chamber. Inner Chamber III, an oblong
room, is entered off the lower left corner of the Main Chamber (height 2.50 m). It is also
reached by a high saddle connecting it and Inner Chamber II; at the foot of the saddle, in
Inner Chamber III, was found a well-preserved rim/handle of a ladle, which might be down
Inner
Chamber
IV
Inner Chamber III

Inner Chamber V
IhnnerChamber II
0ber
'Slnk Holek'
Main Chamber
Islhnd)
N
-
Entrance
Chamber
Carob Tree
Outside Cave
Oat 2,I 6.. a. 101
FIG.4. Sketch plan of the Agiasmatsicave.
wash from Inner Chamber II. Inner Chamber III also contains a few other ancient artefacts,
in much less abundance than the Main Chamber: red gloss and buff bowls, ladles and lamps
(none collected, but all of types known from the main room). Inner Chamber IV opens off
Inner Chamber III. The clay underfoot gets progressively wetter, and no sherds were seen
here; according to Faure 1967:137, the humidity here is 90%. Inner Chamber V, also opening
off Inner Chamber III, and also with a clayey floor, with a narrow fence of stalagmites down
its length, contains only a few sherds (not collected); twine wrapped around a stalagmite was a
sign of previous exploration of this chamber. The cave does not seem to extend beyond these
rooms. According to Faure 1967: 137, the overall depth of the cave system is 45 m.
II. FINDS: ANALYSIS"13

The Sphakia Survey finds from Agiasmatsi Cave include 490 fragments of pottery and
ceramic lamps, six pieces of ceramic beehive, three fragments of terracotta figurines, 26 sherds
of ancient glass, including fragments of a rare painted glass bowl/cup, seven miscellaneous
pieces of metal, including a Turkish coin, five pieces of worked stone, fragments of
'3 We are gratefulfor advice on some of the potteryto:John LaurierUniversity,Ontario).The drawingshave been done by
Hayes (formerly Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto); Alan Anne Bowtell(Oxford),ChristopherSparey-Green(London)and
Johnston (University College London); Pamela Armstrong Don Evely (Instituteof Archaeology,Oxford).The photography
(Oxford); Eva Parisinou (London); and Joann Freed (Wilfrid is by KathyMay (INS'IAPStudyCenterfor EastCrete).
charcoal/burnt wood, three bones and two teeth.'4 The ceramic remains are generally small
and extremely worn; no complete vessels were found. Most have lost their original surface and
decoration. These finds were gathered either through random sampling based on diagnostic
features or decoration, or because they represented the only finds (usually in a small quantity)
from a particular area of the cave. No part of the cave was sifted, although a soil sample was
taken.
1. METHOD OF ANALYSIS
Each sherd from Agiasmatsi was washed with soft brushes; this was imperative due to the soft
surface of many fragments. Many were covered with a thick, black coating which was
originally thought to be black gloss or burning, but was later discovered to be bat guano; this
often proved difficult to remove without harming the sherd. The sherds were then examined
according to their findspot, which was how they had been collected and bagged. When first
analysed in 1993, each bag received an overall comment, with diagnostic or decorated pieces
separated for cataloguing. These sherds were then sketched, drawn, photographed, and
measured; shapes were analysed and comparanda sought; very general comments on fabric
were noted; and Munsell colour comparisons were made. By 1995, however, several factors
made a closer reassessment of the Agiasmatsi material necessary. First, an overview of all
Sphakia pottery revealed the cave finds to be anomalous in both several of their forms and
fabrics; second, the possibility of a tightly dated deposit made fabric analysis highly desirable.'5
The ensuing investigation was more intensive, and each sherd was analysed according to new
criteria with two fundamental aims. The first was a general understanding of the sherd, and
included the following elements: sherd type; extant part; type of manufacture (wheel-made,
moulded, handmade); texture of a fresh break (each sherd was clipped) and surface; surface
condition; exterior and interior treatment (decoration: paint, scoring, etc.); surface and core
hardness; surface and core colour descriptions and Munsell numbers; and overall texture. The
second examination consisted of an in-depth fabric analysis. The fresh break and surface of
each sherd was analysed in an effort to identify each inclusion; a IoX, lighted hand lens was
used in this step. The dominant inclusion was noted as well as the general shape of the
inclusions (from rounded through angular to flat). The density of inclusions within the matrix
was documented, as well as the range of inclusion size (from o.I mm upwards). Finally, the
dispersal of the inclusions in the matrix was recorded (poorly-sorted, medium-sorted, well-
sorted).
2. THE SPHAKIA SURVEY FABRIC FAMILIES
Once the individual fabric details were registered, the sherd was assigned to one of eight
Fabric Families, as distinguished by Jennifer Moody and Harriet Lewis Robinson.'G These are
general fabric types into which nearly all of the Sphakia pottery can be placed. They are
'4 The glass was analysed (in photographs and drawings) Moody and Robinson, 'The fabrics of life in Sphakia', the
by Martine Newby (London). The worked stone was Eighth International Cretological Congress (Sept. 1996),
analyzed by Lucy Wilson (University of New Brunswick at forthcoming.
Saint John). The few bone fragments have been studied by Some of these fabric names may vary slightly from those
16
Tina McGeorge (Athens). to be presented in the final publication of the Sphakia
'5 This fabric analysis is the work primarily of Jennifer Survey, since the fabric analysis of all the material is still
Moody, aided by Harriet Lewis Robinson (Maine, USA). Cf. under way.
subdivided into wares primarily on inclusion type, colour, feel, and texture. The material from
Agiasmatsi represents seven of these families (FIG. 5):
Mixed Metamorphic Family 26 sherds

Phyllite 7 sherds
Siltstone 12 sherds (2 true siltstone; Io pseudo-chip wares)
Sand 86 sand
Calcareous 3 sherds
Mica 7 sherds
Fine and Medium Fine 339 sherds (including 282 Powder ware)
Unknown Io sherds
Mixed Metamorphic Family (MMF):temper is a combination of metamorphic rocks and minerals such
as phyllite, schist, quartzite, marble, mica, and quartz. This fabric occurs commonly in the PH period,
but is also common in the Medieval to Modern period as a cooking fabric. The Agiasmatsi examples
consist of two Neopalatial fragments (74, 75), two pieces of terracotta figurines and
(Iog, IIo),
fragmentsof eight ladles (46, A-279, A-28o, A-285, A-29I, A-303, A-332, A-383).
Phyllite Family:dominant inclusion is phyllite. There are several distinctivewares within this family,but
none are characteristicallyGreek to Roman. Represented in this fabric are two pieces of cooking ware,
one of which is C-H (76); the other is considerably later (79: LR or B-?T). A piece of pithos (83), of
indeterminate date but at least as early as C, is also of this ware, as is a handle of a LCV (67).
Siltstone Family: this group is tempered with siltstone or clay stone, soft, scratchable, subrounded to
rounded grits of a variety of colours (red, grey, silver-blue,tan). Siltstone fabrics are especially common
from LM III down to the C-H periods (x), although it can also occur later (73, 84).
Within this family are Pseudo-chip Wares.'7They have several dominant inclusions, one of which is
shale, but the inclusions tend to be subroundedrather than angular.These fabrics are often Early Iron
Age (LM III to A) but can also appear in the T period. There are several Pseudo-chip Ware fragments
(84, A-322, A-369, A-38I, A-382, A-396, A-407, A-4o08,A-512). This fabric at Agiasmatsi contains a
large amount of shale but also equal amounts of soft red.
Sand Family:filled with medium to coarse sand (individualgrits are less than 2 mm). Often these sherds
have no dominant inclusions, particularlywhen they are very fine, but small grits of quartz and mica
(usually silver) are most common. Some examples also contain volcanic grits such as obsidian or
tourmaline. Mixed-sand Ware contains a greater variety of minerals with a possible colour differencein
the sand particles. This is one of the more common wares among the Agiasmatsimaterial. It seems to
have been reservedprimarilyfor small, open shapes, like cups, mugs, or small bowls, but also occurs in a
few larger kraters/basins,smalljars/jugs, an amphora, lamps, and beehives. A figurine fragment(xxxi)is
made from this ware. Dates span the A through ER periods, and later B-T examples are also found.
Calcareous Family: the primary inclusion is a calcareous substance (limestone, shell, calcite, etc). In
Sphakia, as in much of the rest of Crete, this family is common in the Early and Middle Bronze Age,
'7 Chip Family is a another characteristic fabric for the surprising that there are no examples of true Chip fabrics
Graeco-Roman period. It contains matt chips of hard shale from the AgiasmatsiCave.
or slate in an orange and/or buff clay. It is somewhat
350
300
250
200 E Series2
150 U Series1
100
50
0
u. a, -o m u_ c
r c, r c ~u r 3
c, o
y)-U ~r c
ar Y u Yr
V) LL Z~
5. Chart of fabric families. In the F and \IF Family; series I represents all other wares, while series 2 represents the Powder Wares.
1"G;.
when it is used in cooking vessels, and then disappears until the Greek and Roman periods (C
onwards).This chronological distinction is reflected at Agiasmatsi:a basin floor dates to the EM-MM I
period (62), while the only other example, a bowl/plate, dates to LH-ER (30).
Mica Family: generally fine-textured clay in which the primary inclusion is usually silver mica; on
occasion, gold mica can also be found. This fabric is found in R, LR, and later sherds, and very
micaceous wares are not common to Sphakia;they are probably imported. Agiasmatsi preservesseven
examples of this fabric; five of them are ladles. The remaining fragments belong to a multiple-nozzle
lamp (A-31o,A-31ii).
Fine (F) and Medium-Fine (MF) Families:a miscellaneous group of fine and medium-textured sherds
categorized by colour (grey;buff, orange, pink and red are the most common). The dominant inclusion
in them is often very fine sand, but many sherds are too fine for their contents to be securely identified
macroscopically.Fine and Medium-fine wares occur from the Neolithic on; however,they dominate the
scene during the Greek and Roman period (G-LR).
As with Sand fabrics, the majority of the MF sherds are small, open shapes: mugs and cups (5,
8, 9, 1o, 14, 20, 27, 29, and bowls (4, I3, 33, 37, 38, 40, 42). Other shapes include
saucers/dishes (25), kraters3I),
(66, 68), beakers and jugs (24, 32, 69), an unguentarium (70), a
pyxis (65), and several lamp fragments (95, 96, A-38Ib). The dates for these range from A-C
to ER, with only two later examples (40 and 42).
One of the most prevalent and distinctive fabrics within the MF Family is the so-called
Powder Ware. As with all MF fabrics, the primary inclusion of the Powder Wares is sand.
Except for the very fine sherds, the grains of sand are visible on the surface and few
individual inclusions can be identified. The most conspicuous inclusion is mica, with every
sherd possessing some degree of silver mica and several showing small amounts of gold as
well. Small pieces of quartz are present, as are soft-white grits and phyllite. These sherds
are non-calcareous. This fabric is characterized by a soft powdery surface and hard core;
due to the powdery nature of the clay, the original surface treatment is usually lost. The
powder which lay beneath the original surface (now the surviving surface) does not support
well the adhesion of decoration to the clay, although a thick layer of glaze or paint seems to
have had the best chance of survival. Several sherds preserve traces of red glaze or dark
paint, but many more show only shadows of original decoration. There is no immediate
explanation for the preservation of surface treatments on some vessels over others. The
find spot within the cave does not seem to affect the fabric; the only exception are the
sherds from Inner Chamber II which were found somewhat above the ground level of the
cave.
In order to qualify as a Powder Ware, a sherd must have a powdery surface. When the
sherd is handled, this powder comes off, often without any encouragement; persistent rubbing
with the fingers can abrade the surface. Three types of powder surface have been
distinguished: Very Fine to Fine Powder; Medium Powder; and Coarse Powder:
Very Fine to Fine Powder (36, 54, 55, 57, 59, 97, 98, 1OI, o07,Io8): the surfacesof these sherds have
a soft, velvety feel. The individual grains of powder lie close to the surface; they are very fine and
cannot be seen with the naked eye--visible only with a IoX lens--nor can they be felt individuallywith
the fingers. This powder gives the clay a shimmery,iridescent look. The cores of these sherds can be
somewhat soft and frequentlyhave a 'melted' appearance.
Medium Powder (28, 43, 48, 51, 52, 60, 99, Ioo, 1o3, io4, io5): these sherds comprise the majority
of the Agiasmatsipowder wares. They have a grainy feel; the individualgrains of powder are visible on
the surface and can be felt. This powder exists in significant densities: it rolls loosely along the surface
rather than adhering closely to it as in the finer examples.
Coarse Powder (44, 45, 47, 49, 53, 56, 58, 1o2): this is a small group of sherds. They have either large
grains of powder which lie on or just below the surface, or a high density of small grains, both of which
give a gritty feel; rubbing with the fingers pulls the grits from the surface. The sand in these sherds
contains larger inclusions, usually mica, quartz, or phyllite.
The type of surface exhibited by each sherd depends on the quality of its surface powder.
Very soft surfaces have either fine or medium fine powder; the surface is very easily
scratched and can be eroded without difficulty. Significant amounts of the surface grains
rub off on the fingers, even in the finer examples where they are not so loosely set.
Scratches on the surface produce a ragged, melted-looking line. Soft surfaces are also easily
scratched with a fingernail, and they too rub off on the fingers, but scratches produce a
clean line. Medium surfaces do not lose as much powder as the softer sherds. Grains rub
off with some effort, and the surface can still be scratched. This is the hardest type of
powder surface.
In general, the fresh breaks of a powder sherd have a grainy look, but can appear smoother
or 'melted' owing to abrasion. In the finer examples, the breaks have an even, smooth
consistency, while in the coarser sherds, they can be slightly foliated or flaky. There are three
discernible core types:
Soft: these are easily scratched with a fingernail and their surface rubs off easily. They have a melted
look and fresh breaks are quickly smudged. These sherds tend to be finer, thin-walled vessels with very
fine, powdery,velvety surfaces.
Medium: these breakscan be scratchedwith a fingernailwith difficulty,and their surfacesare not easily
abraded. Freshbreaksremain so, and do not 'melt'.
Hard: these hard-fired cores are very common among the Agiasmatsi Powder Wares. They cannot be
scratchedwith a fingernail and produce a 'clink'when dropped.
There is a very small range of colours evident among the Agiasmatsi Powder. In broad
categories, these are orange, pink, and tan, with a very small representative number of buff
sherds. Within these, there is some gradation from pink-orange to buff-tan. A few sherds show
cores misfired to a grey. Munsell designations are as follows:
Orange: the majority of the sherds are orange. They tend toward the 7.5 YRpage, with most having a
surface colour of 6/8 or 7/6. Some are a brighter orange, in the range of 5 YR 5/6 or 6/6. The grey
misfiredcores range from 7.5 YR7/2-7/3 to IOYR 6/I.
Pink-orange:these sherds are close to 7.5 YR7/6-7/4, but with a pinker tinge. Their cores tend to be a
darkerpink, nearly a pink-brown(5 YR7/6).
Buff-tan:these sherds are fairly consistent in their colour, but exact Munsell matches are rare. They are
all related to Io YR7/3-7/4, with some near 7.5 YR7/4. In general, these have a brownish look with a
hint of either pink or orange.
One of the most curious features of this fabric is the contradiction between the softness and
consistent powdery quality of its surface, and the generally hard-fired, clinky cores. This may
be partially due to the conditions within the cave and the general state of the Agiasmatsi
sherds-most of which preserve a soft, powdery surface to some degree--may bear this out.
On the other hand, the surface-core ratio is far more consistently apparent in the Powder
Wares. It may be that the potters were deliberately trying to produce a powdery exterior in
order to imitate another type of material, perhaps alabaster, or that this was simply a property
of the available clay.
So far, we have not been able to locate this clay source. The character of the clay suggests
that it is an alluvial deposit eroded out of the sparse Neogene deposits that survive along the
south coast. It is possible that the clay bed was of limited size and played out after a few
centuries of use, or perhaps its location was too inconvenient for long-term use; the existence
of several ladles in other wares suggests that not all potters had access to powder clay.
3. SUMMARYOF FINDS BY FIND SPOT
OutsideCave
The narrow ledge outside the cave contained a small sherd scatter. Sixteen sherds were
collected: four MM/LM I fragments (notably 75); one C-H; one R; two ranging in date from
B-T; one modern; and seven of indeterminate date.
EntranceChamber
Some 60 sherds were collected from this chamber.
G-R: Of interest from the A period is a cup fragment (3). The C period is represented by a cup
rim that may be Peloponnesian (5), and several other pieces span C or H-ER: a krater rim
(68). Most sherds belong to the H and ER periods: notable are a bowl/mug (22), several cups
(2o, 26); and one single-nozzle lamp fragment (96). Fifteen ladle handles, tentatively dated to
H-ER (48, A-28, A-277, A-327, A-397, A-2I, A-I89, A-6, A-68, A-I25, A-I88, A-Io, A-I96, A-
178, A-22o), come from this room. Of ER date are a floor fragment of a shallow dish (33); and a
sanded-ware cup (3x). A piece of obsidian also came from this chamber (x22). B-T: Three B-T
sherds were found in this room, including fragments of a green T dribble-ware bowl (39).
Main Chamber
This chamber produced 243 sherds, the majority of which are not clearly datable but span
A-ER. There are also up to 21 sherds from a rare painted glass bowl/cup of ER date (x1i3)-
only 35 to 40 other similar vessels and fragments are known; four other pieces of ER glass
(x1x2),a piece of possibly post-Roman glass (xI4), and one piece of modern glass (x115).There
are also five bone fragments (117-2I).
PH: There are three PH fragments. Notable are an EM-MM I basin base (62) and a
MM/LM I tripod foot (74).
G-R: There are two noteworthy A sherds: a pyxis rim (65) which may be as late as H, and a
saucer/dish rim (7) that may be as late as EH. From the C period comes the rim of a tulip jug
(69) that spans C-H; a cooking pot rim (76) may be C-H. A pithos neck fragment (83) dates
C-R, and a cup base belongs to LC (12). A tulip cup (i4) is LC-H and a shoulder of a ?Chian
amphora (82) is LC/EH. A shoulder from a CV (I7) is H. Dating to the Hellenistic and Early
Roman periods are an unguentarium base (7o), a beaker/jar base (2x), a saucer base (25), a
strap handle from a jug (24), a red-gloss base (29), and a cooking pot rim of the first century AD
(78). Lamps are well-represented in this chamber. There are six single-nozzle fragments,
including a A-?C grey-ware lamp (90go), a LH-ER lamp with a vertical-hole handle (92g), and a
popular ER Cretan type (94). There are pieces of seventeen multiple-nozzle lamps, and 45
sherds recognized as belonging to ladles (?H-ER). Three pieces of terracotta figurines (xo19,
I1o, Iix ) are dated to the Greek/Roman period. Four fragments of beehive (86-9) may be LR.
B-T: There are ten sherds spanning this period. Of interest are several fragments from a
green dribble-ware bowl (39), and a south Italian glazed bowl (40).
InnerChamberI
Seven sherds were collected here; five can be dated, and three are powder-sand ladles.
G-R: The G-R sherds from this room are three ladles.
B-T: The only datable sherd is a pithos body sherd (A-38I), dated by fabric (pseudo-chip
ware).
InnerChamberII
The 28 sherds collected in this small, oval, slightly concave area surrounded by stalagmites are
fairly homogenous.
PH: There is a single MM coarse sherd (A-293).
G-R: There are 25 GACHR sherds. All but five are Powder wares, either ladles or multiple-
nozzle lamps. Of interest are a fragment of an A dipped bowl (4) and a C-H red-slipped rim
(Io).
B-T: A single green-yellow glazed bowl rim (4x) dates to this period, plus one coarse sherd
(A-273B).
No sherds were collected from Inner Chambers III and IV, although small scatters were
noted in both areas.
4. SUMMARY OF SHAPES
The Agiasmatsipottery has been dividedinto eight general groupsbased on its function (FIG.6).
(i) Fine TableWares
This group contains cups, small bowls, thin-walled beakers, and ladles. The term cup refers to
a broad, general category of small, open vessels with one or two handles. When no handles
200 186
180
160
140
120
100
80
60 47 43 41
40
20 9 11
3 5 5 3
0
G)Oa a) 0) ) c
3, . 3~
E ..- -
a) a) - .
a) v- 0 =ora
0 .
FIG.6. Chart of vessel types.
are present, the objects are called bowls. There are 233 examples identified from the cave. The
majority of these fragments are undistinguished, cylindrical or bulbous forms with short
everted rims, but some specific forms can be recognized: two thin-walled cups (Ig, 31), both
with vertical rims, and one with sanded decoration; Kommos cups (8, A-326, A-450) with an
elongated body, short everted rim, and thin strap handle; and rounded one-handled cups (5,
9, 27), like modern tea cups. The thin-walled vessels are probably Italian; one cup (5) is
possibly Peloponnesian, and a bowl (4) reproduces a Lakonian form but not fabric; all other
fragments seem to be Cretan. The twelve cylindrical cups have either a flat or disc base, and
those that preserve it show a short, everted rim; all seem to be of local manufacture. There are
also shallow bowls/dishes/plates, all shallow vessels with large rim diameters; their degree of
preservation does not permit more specific identification. This was evidently not a necessary
nor popular shape in Agiasmatsi cave, for only seven examples are identifiable. All are local,
except for 30, which appears to imitate a shape from Benghazi, and 42, which is modern
British Willow Ware. The cave preserves two examples of beakers, here defined as a small
closed vessel without handles; both are thin-walled. One is probably an Italian import (32).
The most common type of open vessel found in the cave is the ladle; there are fragments
from 186 examples. They are all more or less consistent in shape and derive from a simple cup
or bowl form with an everted rim. The base is flat and c. 5 cm in diameter, although two
slightly larger versions occur (A-90, A-480). These vessels are characterized by string-marks
and smears of clay on the resting surface. Those examples that preserve a full profile have a
short, shallow wall of varying heights: 43 (c. 3 cm); 45 (c. 5 cm), thus suggesting different
capacities. The average liquid capacity of these vessels is c. 4 cups US or just under a litre.
Despite the wall height, however, the base diameter remains consistent. The wall always flares
out and is either rounded or sharply carinated near the top. The rim is always everted,
although neither the width nor the decoration is consistent, and some examples have a
grooved top surface. FIG. 7 offers a reconstruction of a composite specimen.
The handles take various forms. They are all attached at one end only and project more or
less horizontally from the wall just below the rim. Two types of handles are identified among
the 71 preserved fragments. One form is hollow, either round or flattened, with necking-in
marks on their interiors; four examples are preserved. These are straight and the single
FIG.7. Reconstruction of ladle. Scale 1:2.
example with a finished edge preserves a length of 5 cm (6x). The second group of handles is
more common with 24 preserved fragments. These are solid, rolled, round or oval handles.
They curve down at a near-goo angle mid-handle and up slightly at the tips. Their ends are
variously treated and are either pinched with a straight, seam-like fold of clay at a squared tip
(e.g. A-34, A-43, A-44), or rolled to a pointed tip (57, A-I55). One example (56) is unparalleled
in the series in that it has a horizontally, rather than vertically, attached handle. 57 has a
flattened spot on the underside at the bend and a finger-mark on the top surface that suggest
that the bowls were intended to rest on their handles during their use. The method of
attaching these handles produces the characteristic trefoil rim/wall profile. Rather than set on
the exterior wall, they are instead pushed into the vessels causing a displacement of the clay.
This distortion was evidently desirable, for the wall area around the handle was carefully
smoothed and wipe-marks are present on nearly all examples; however, no effort was made to
replace the displaced rim/wall section.
Many of these vessels were decorated and preserve faint traces of paint or glaze. In general,
however, too little remains to determine the exact type of pigment although dark red/brown is
common (A-3I). Both interior and exterior surfaces of the ladles were painted.
Almost all the ladles, 162 out of 186 are made from the same clay, a very soft, powdery
fabric called Powder Ware. This fabric belongs to the Sand Family or the Fine to Medium-fine
Families, but its soft, powdery surface condition and hard core is an exceptional and consistent
combination. The softness of the clay and the conditions in the cave have ensured that the
original surface of many examples has been lost; however, traces of dark red/brown glaze are
often observed. Other fabrics were also used for the manufacture of these ladles: eight MMF
(46, A-279, A-28o, A-285, A-291, A-303, A-332, A-383); one Pseudo-chip Ware (A-396); five
Mica fabrics (A-2o, A-I75, A-I8o, A-327, A-397); three undifferentiated Fine Wares (A-I3, A-
337, A-492); and one Phyllite fabric (6x).
TableandStorageWares
(ii) Common
This group includes large open shapes, jars and jugs, an unguentarium, and a pyxis. Basins/kraters
are uniformly large, open vessels with high sides and flat bases. Kraters are defined as having a
thick, everted rim and angular profile, while basins have a thickened, more vertical rim. When the
vessel is insufficiently preserved for this distinction to be made, both terms are used. Eleven
examples of these shapes are preserved from the cave, and all appear to be of local production; two
are clearly related to Cretan household kraters (66, 68). The single unguentarium (70) has a small,
flat base and thick, nearly vertical, and straight walls. It is of local manufacture. Jars/jugs/pitchers
is a general group that includes all small, spouted vessels with handles (30 in number). More
specific forms cannot be identified, except for the thin-walled example with strap handle (24) and
the Cretan tulip jug (69). In general, these vessels have a ring-foot base, a rounded or straight wall,
a trefoil spout, and a strap handle. The fragments are too ill-preserved to determine provenience
on the basis of shape, but fabric suggests local manufacture. One pyxis was found in the cave (65).
It is shaped like a modern inkwell with vertical walls, and is of local manufacture.
(iii) CookingWares
Cooking pots are defined primarily on the basis of their fabric (reddish, coarse, usually gritty
and crumbly) or shape (tripod foot, 74); nine fragments have been identified. Only seven
fragments are associated with open shapes, but these are very ill preserved. Identifiable are
several large vessels with everted rims (75, 76, 78), a brazier (77), and a tripod foot (74). All
examples are presumably local, except possibly for 78, which may be imported. There are
four fragments of closed cooking vessels from the cave; only one is diagnostic.
(iv)Amphoras
Three amphora fragments have been identified. One of these (81) is a storage vessel and of local
manufacture; another (82) is more likely a commercial amphora and may be a Chian export.
(v)Pithoi
Five pithos fragments are preserved,but only two pieces are diagnostic. All seem to be locally
made. This category also includes a miscellaneous group of 25, ill-preserved fragments from
unidentified, large closed vessels.
(vi) Beehives
The four beehive fragments from Agiasmatsi cave are identified through interior scoring. Two
are the same fabric (88; 89), although not the same vessel (different diameters). The body
diameters of all are within a small range (16-22 cm). The interior treatment varies from thin
scratching (86) to deep, dense scoring (88; 89). The single lid (85) is ambiguous, and may be
instead a lantern. We shall offer a fuller analysis of the rich beehive material from Sphakia as
a whole in a future article.
(vii)Lamps
Single-nozzle Lamps
There are eleven fragments of single-nozzle lamps. These are all of usual Hellenistic and early
Roman shapes, and all are mould-made. Many preserve traces of paint (gI-2, 94-5) and several
show relief or incised decoration on their top surfaces (93-4, 96). The fabrics vary, with grey wares
(90o,95), fine, light-brown/buff clay (93-4), and several gritty examples (93, 94). The lamps were
made in two or three pieces, with the lower segment of the body probably wheelmade, the upper
part made in a mould with decoration and nozzle, and a ring handle either added separately or
made as part of the mould. 94 is a typical, Cretan ER form, and examples of this type come from
Aptera, Knossos, and Kommos, all dated to the mid-first century AD,at the earliest.'8
8 For the Aptera lamp (Khania, Museum), see A. Delt. 17 273, 276 and fig. 3; for the Kommos lamp, see J. W Shaw,
(1961-62), Chr. pl. 358g; for the Knossos example, see K. A. 'Excavations at Kommos (Crete) during 1980', Hesp. 50
Wardle, 'Two notes from Knossos', BSA 67 (1972), no. 5, PP. (1981), no. C2653, pl. 58d.
Only one handle is preserved(92), but it is comparable in manufactureand size to a handle

from Anopolis (Sphakia Survey, 5.6.88). The nozzle of g91 is vertically fashioned, whereas all
others are pushed through obliquely from the exterior; this results in smears of clay around
the hole on the interior. These nozzles usually have a collar around them which forms a lump
above the hole at its junction to the body; these collars can be either rounded--as in the larger
nozzles--or flattened, as in the smaller examples. The two grey ware fragments may be
imports (go, 95), but the rest seem to be Cretan.
Multiple-nozzle Lamps
The majority of lamps from the cave belong to this type, with 41 fragments found (compare the
eleven canonical lamps). These are consistent in size and shape, although no single fragment
preserves more than one nozzle. They stand on a flat, spreading pedestal base with a tall (c. 5 cm),
hollow cylindrical stem. The solid bowl sits on top of this with a flat, slightly concave floor, a short,
bulbous wall, and a slightly everted, lip folded over to the exterior.'9The rim diameter is c. 31.4 cm.
There is no indication of a handle. A conservative estimate places no more than seven nozzles
spread evenly around the rim, c. 8 cm apart. The nozzles are either rounded or flattened; the
flattened examples are slightly smaller on the whole. The holes themselves are obliquely fashioned
by poking through from the exterior. The nozzles are attached to the wall of the bowl without clay
displacement and their holes made after attachment. There are frequently wipemarks around the
area with particular attention paid to smoothing the surface above the hole. One example (IoI) is
distinguished by a double curved incision underneath the nozzle and a similar incision above it;
these may have been made by a fingernail, nG. 8 offers a reconstruction of a composite specimen.
Nearly all these lamps are made of powder-sand ware, and like the ladles made from this
fabric they preserve only minimal traces of a dark red/brown paint or glaze on the interior
and exterior (e.g. Io3, io6). One example is a plain sand ware (A-I5), and another lamp
belongs to the Mica family (A-3Io, A-3II). All nozzles show traces of burning at their tips, and
one fragment is burnt over breaks suggesting secondary burning in the cave.
There are no exact parallels for this form. Lamps set on high pedestals are usually of the
single-nozzle variety, and multiple-nozzle lamps are generally lower. These either have their
nozzles set immediately beside each other rather than widely separated, as in the Agiasmatsi
examples, or concentrate the nozzles on one side of the bowl balanced by a handle on the
other.20 Fragments of multiple-nozzle lamps from the sanctuary of Demeter at Knossos seem
to be similar to the Agiasmatsi examples in that they show evenly spaced nozzles around a
closed bowl, but these are not complete enough for secure comparison.2'
'9 A similar rim form can be seen on a lamp from Tell lamps from Gortyn show small, close-set nozzles on a high
Taannek in Palestine, where locally produced examples have pedestal and a narrow channel for the bowl: B. Rutkowski,
an everted rim with seven trefoil spouts, set on a tall foot. D. 'Lampessacr~esde Gortyne',Etudeset Travaux, 13 (1983),321-4.
Kassab Tegzar and T. Sezer, Catalogue deslampesen terrecuitedu For other examples, see O. Broneer,Isthmiaiii. Terracotta
Lamps
musiearcheologique (Paris, 1995), 37 no.I8 and pl. I8.
d'Istanbul (Princeton,1977),22 no. 219 and pls 4 and 18 (second half of
2o For instance, prehistoric lamps from Crete show two 3rd-2nd c. BC).See also R. H. Howland, TheAthenian Agoraiv.
nozzles pulled out from a shallow bowl set on top of a tall, Greek LampsandtheirSurvivals
(Princeton,1958),154,no. 611 and
spreadingpedestal with flat foot: an example from Platanosis pl. 48 (c. 266-225 BC);and P. Bruneau,Dilos, xxvi. LesLampes
cited in S. A. Xanthoudides, The Vaulted Tombsof Mesara(2nd (Paris, 1965), 23, nos. 115-36 and pl. 2; 27 no. 312 and pl. 6; and
edn; Farnborough, 1971),97 no. 6905 and pl. 51 b; for other 30, no. 1599and pl. 7 (mid-2ndto earlyIst c. BC).
Cretanlamps,see also D. M. Bailey,A Catalogue oftheLampsin the " Coldstream 1973:33, dep. E, nos. 35-7 and fig. 16; these
BritishMuseumi. Greek,Hellenistic
andEarlyRomanLamps(London, lamps date to the mid-3rd c. BCand are thereforepotentially
1975), 27-8, nos Qio-II, and pls 6-7. C-H multiple-nozzle contemporarywith the Agiasmatsiexamples.
FIG.8. Reconstructionof multiple-nozzle lamp. Scale I:I.
(viii) Terracotta
Figurines
There are fragments of three terracotta figurines from the cave. None are well preserved, and
only in one case (iii) can the form be determined. Iog and xio are of the same highly
distinctive, bright red, hard fabric, although their different weights and sizes make it unlikely
that they belong to the same figurine.
III. CHRONOLOGY AND FUNCTION
1. CHRONOLOGY
The first published account of Agiasmatsi Cave dated its primary period to the Bronze Age.22
This chronology has not been borne out by the Sphakia Survey finds. Only eight Prehistoric
sherds were recovered by us, compared to the hundreds that date to ACHR, suggesting
instead that the cave was primarily used in the Graeco-Roman period. It is possible that a
significant Minoan level exists under the present material, but we simply cannot know without
excavation (FIG.9).
22
Faure 1967: I35-8. Rutkowski and Nowicki 1996: 49 also treat the cave as a possible LM III cult site.
30
25
20
Series2
15
I Seriesl
10
0-
LU~
3Q
~JC) I Q~
LU
er cr > H- -
FIG.9 Periods of pottery represented. Series I: sherds dated precisely to one period; Series 2: sherds dated to more than one
period (half of each sherd dated to two periods is assigned to each of the periods, a third of each sherd dated to three periods is
assigned to each of those periods). Series 2 also includes sherds dated with a question mark to more than one period (but excludes
the ladles and multiple-nozzle lamps).
After the Bronze Age, no datable finds appear until the Archaic period. These sherds are
sparse. Four are dated to the Archaic period alone: bowls and cups (2-4, A-32I). Eight others
date to A-C or A-H. Four may be Archaic or Classical: a cup (5) and a jug (6), a basin (63)
and a lamp (go). The remainder span the A-H period: a saucer/dish (7); a pyxis (65); and
several undifferentiated fragments. The fabrics are either fine wares, with two grey wares, or
sand wares, neither of which are unexpected in Sphakia during the A-H period.
Sherds that can be dated to the Classical period are slightly more numerous. Five fragments
are clearly Classical, notably a Kommos cup (8) and another cup (12), a krater (66) and an
amphora (8o). Four others are C-H. The shapes represented are several small, open forms
such as cups/bowls (io, II, A-I44), a single Tulip jug (69), and larger open shapes (kraters and
basins). One basin (64) spans A-H (cf. another basin A-239); a pithos fragment (83) is C-R;
and a krater (68) dates C/H-ER. The fabric range is still narrow, with phyllite and fine wares
predominating; several examples of sand ware are also identified.
Eight sherds are identified specifically as Hellenistic, notably: a cup (I6), a fine closed vessel
and two single-nozzle lamps (9x-92). This is almost twice as many as are securely dated
(i7),
to C, and there is a significant increase in finds that belong either to Hellenistic or to an
adjacent period (in this case Early Roman). It is almost impossible to separate these vessels in
date, and (excluding the 227 ladles and multiple-nozzle lamps) 37 fragments fall into what
seems to have been the period of the cave's peak activity. There are thirteen sherds datable to
ER (notably 3I-8, 71, 78, 94). The two most diagnostic, on the basis of forms, are a North-
Italian sanded-ware bowl (3I) and a popular type of Cretan lamp (94) found at other sites
such as Aptera and Knossos; both these vessels date to the early-mid first century AD, at the
latest. The marbled glass and the painted glass from the Main Chamber (x112-x3) also date to
this period.23 Imported wares appear with greater frequency at Agiasmatsi cave at this time,
with Italian shapes and wares dominating. A wide range of shapes occurs, but small open
shapes (cups, small bowls) are most frequent. Fabrics represented change. Fine and Medium-
Fine wares continue, but most common are those containing sand, and two vessels with
diagnostic shapes are made of Powder ware (A-5, A-464).
After c. AD 5o, there is little datable pottery. A single lamp nozzle (96) dates to the late first
and possibly into the early second century. Four other sherds, mostly lamp bs, may also be R.
21 sherds span B-T into Modern: eleven are dated to T (notably fine wares 39-41 and
perhaps a Icy 84). Small open shapes continue to be popular, with several cooking pots also
identified (A-248, A-264). A single pithos (A-38i) and ajug (A-284) complete the assemblage.
The Agiasmatsi material presents two difficult chronological problems: first is the date of
the Powder Ware ladles and multiple-nozzle lamps; second is the period(s) to which the
beehive fragments belong.
Ladles and multiple-nozzle lamps are without doubt the defining shapes of the Agiasmatsi
collection and it is important that they should be well dated. Although they fit nicely into the
suite of Greek-Roman ceramic shapes,24 actual comparanda are meagre: multiple-nozzle
lamps and ladles from Knossos and ladle-like bowls from Selinon.'5 Nevertheless, the few
parallels we have for the shapes do suggest an H-ER date, which corresponds to the largest
body of datable material from the cave discussed above.
The distinctive Powder Wares that the majority of these shapes are made of also suggest a
Graeco-Roman date. Although Sand Fabrics are especially common in Sphakia during the
Greek and Roman periods (nearly 50%), they are also a feature of Early Minoan, and
Byzantine through Turkish pottery. Very Fine to Fine Powder Wares seem to begin as early as
LM in the Sphakia area. A comparison of an LM III kylix from a site in the Frangokastello
plain (FK Thermokipi) with Fine Buff Powder Wares from Agiasmatsi demonstrated that they
were macroscopically impossible to distinguish. Medium-Fine Powder Wares, however, seem
to have a more specific chronological distribution. They occur sporadically throughout the
Sphakia Survey region at sites that are primarily GACHR in date (Tarrha (C-LR), West of
Old Agia Roumeli (G-H), Ergasteria (ER-LR), and Patsianos Kephala (G-H)), though never
with the abundance that they have been found at Agiasmatsi.
A few ladles and multiple-nozzle lamps are made of other fabrics (Mixed Metamorphic,
Mica, Phyllite, etc), which are less chronologically diagnostic than Powder Wares.
Nevertheless, the manufacture of these ladles and lamps follows exactly the prescribed form
for these vessels, indicating that their intent and function was the same, despite the change in
fabric. It also increases the likelihood that they are contemporary with the Powder Ware
versions just discussed.
Although it is not unusual to find beehives in cave mouths and rock shelters, it does seem
out of the ordinary to find them deep inside a cave, as they were at Agiasmatsi. All four
examples were found in the Main Chamber, well inside the cavern. Three of the beehive
23Painted glass seems to have been introduced to North Occasional Papers, I3; London, g199),122-36.
Italy from Syria in the Ist c. AD. There are several fragments 24The primary shape during this time was the small, open
of North Italian pottery in the cave (3x, 32), and this glass cup or bowl. The ladles are but another instance of these
could have travelledwith them to Crete. See B. Riitti, 'Early vessels. See discussionin previous section on ladles.
enamelled glass', in M. Newby and K. Painter (eds), Roman 25Knossos, above n. 18 and B. Homann-Wedeking,BSA45
Glass:TwoCenturies of Art andInvention(Society of Antiquaries (I950), 183, fig. 23, no. 3; Selinon, below, n. 34.
fragments are not datable by shape or fabric. They are in fact very similar in fabric, size, and
interior scoring to hundreds of other beehives we have found in Sphakia which range in date
over the whole Graeco-Roman period. The other three fragments, however, are made of a
distinctive sand ware, fired to a deep red and may belong to the same vessel. These are similar
to fifth century AD beehives from Knossos, suggesting that they--and perhaps the other three
beehives-date to the LR period.26
2. FUNCTION
General
Over the centuries caves have served a variety of purposes. People have lived in them,
sometimes in emergencies for short periods and sometimes in long-term settlements.27
Shepherds and others have also used caves for occasional shelter for themselves or their
animals. On occasion, for instance in the Bronze Age, caves have been used for burials.28
Finally, caves have often been sites of ritual activity. Over time a single cave could support any
combination of these activities.
Agiasmatsi does not seem ever to have been used as a funerary site. No human bones were
found, nor any indications of burning, grave offerings, or other associated artefacts. Moreover,
the interior of the cave is not suitable for burial since the bedrock lies under only a few inches
of humus in the larger chamber in front, and the surface is thick, clay-like mud in the smaller,
back rooms.
The secluded setting of the cave makes it ideal as a refuge site and less likely as a long term
habitation. The fertile Frangokastello plain, which stretches out below the cave, offers a more
viable living-space; even the slopes below the cave are more accessible. It seems unlikely that
Agiasmatsi was ever used for long-term habitation unless danger threatened, not only because
of its location, but also because of its dampness and size. The rooms in Agiasmatsi are not
large enough to contain a significant population over time and they are all exceedingly
damp--even in the middle of the summer. The amount and character of the pottery from the
cave also suggest that Agiasmatsi never housed a large, year-round population.
The sparse Minoan material collected from the cave combined with the abundant Graeco-
Roman overburden make it impossible to determine the nature of the Bronze Age activity at
Agiasmatsi. The finds, dating mainly to the Neopalatial period, are primarily cooking ware
and one could possibly argue for a domestic function (refuge, animal shelter, habitation) as
opposed to a cultic, but it is well to remember that cooking vessels commonly occur in PH
burials and sanctuaries.
The Archaicto Classicalfinds include a few cups, bowls, saucers, a basin, a lamp and a pyxis.
These are lightweight and eminently portable objects that could represent anything from a
lovers' tryst to a personal shrine.
The Classicalto Hellenisticfinds include cups and bowls plus larger shapes like kraters, basins,
amphora, and a pithos. The latter would have taken some effort to lug up to the cave and
26
D. E. Johnston, 'The Byzantine basilica church at 303-19).
Knossos', BSA 57 (1962), 228, nos. 92-3 and fig. 19. 28 For the
use of caves as burials, see I. Pini, Beitragezur
27 For long-term settlements, see, for instance, the minoischenGrdberkunde(Wiesbaden, 1968), 3-4; AR 36
Franchthi cave (T. W.Jacobsen, 'Franchthi cave and the (1989-90), 76 (Pseira).
beginning of settled village life in Greece', Hesp.50 (1981),
suggest a more purposeful activity than sporadic visits by travellers or shepherds. Still there
are no specific ritual-type shapes represented which might argue for the beginnings of cult
activity in this period.
The Ifellenistic to Early Roman material--with its preponderance of two unusual shapes
(ladles and multiple-nozzle lamps), other lamps, cups and bowls, along with a few kraters,
amphorae, pithoi, figurines, and even an alleged stone carved relief of Pan--argues strongly
that Agiasmatsi functioned as a cave sanctuary of some kind during this period. A terminus for
this cult activity is suggested by the lack of any Middle or Late Roman wares other than
beehives. Since it seemns unlikely that the cave functioned as a sanctuary while housing
beehives, the site must have ceased to have a ritual function after the ER period.
If the cave functioned as a beehive shelter in the Late Romanperiod, it seems unlikely that
the hives were kept deep inside the cave where we found them. Subsequent disturbance of
some kind (rain, wind, animals, humans) must have knocked them from the mouth to the
interior of the cave where they tumbled down the steep slope to rest in the Main Chamber.
The twenty-one sherds that date from Byzantine to Turkishinto Modern recall the assemblage
noted for the Classical to Hellenistic period---small open shapes, cooking wares, a pithos and
a jug--and suggest similar, limited activity. Perhaps sporadic visits by shepherds, travellers and
refugees. We know from historic sources that the cave was used as a refuge site in the mid
nineteenth century AD, and the concentration of nineteenth-century fine wares at the mouth
of the cave, which include imported Willow Ware, is probably to be connected with this phase
of the cave's history.9
The Hellenistic-EarlyRomanSanctuary
The Hellenistic to Early Roman finds show that in this period the cave had a different
function from that of earlier and later periods and that that function was ritual. The greatest
proportion of this pottery is Fine Table Ware, with a predominance of small open shapes (e.g.
cups, bowls, ladles). Also friequently occurring are larger open shapes: kraters and basins. The
coexistence of these two shapes suggests the mixing and drinking of liquids, probably wine and
water. There is a significant number of small closed shapes (e.g. jugs, beakers, small
amphorae); these were probably used for the collection or transportation of the liquids to be
mixed. Several sherds belong to cooking pots, although no traces of cooking areas in the cave
were noted. The find of a pig's tibia (ix8) and a possible cow femur with butchering marks
(i 7), both from the Main Chamber, indicate dining of some kind. It is unlikely that pigs or
cows would have wandered into the cave on their own and died, though the sheep/goats and
hare (?) whose remains were found (Ix9-2I) might have died here accidentally. It seems clear
that the main occupation of Agiasmatsi was dining, either in a domestic or ritual context.
The few fragments of terracotta figurines from the cave also suggest ritual activity. Only one
piece can be identified: a seated figure, presumably female, who wears a long skirt. Unfortunately,
neither she nor the other fragments are well enough preserved to shed any light on the nature of
the rites nor on their recipient. A relief said to have been looted from the cave showed Pan, but
this is an insufficient basis for saying that the primary cult of the cave was Pan and the Nymphs.s3
'(j G. Papadopetrakis, 'Iuropia ir6v ,4aKdwv rol pi pog edn; Heraklion, 1950), iii. 1350.
rj. KprluKrg 'Itropi0ag (Athens. 1888; repr. Athens, 1971), 30 Cfi below Catalogue (Items not seen by Survey),no. 24.
33, 51-3-4;1. D. Mourellos, 'lIozopla zijg Kprtlz7, 3 vols (2nd
The fifty-one lamp fragments recovered from the cave are not surprising in themselves (any
activity here will have needed light), but the fact that most of these are of a very unusual
shape, hardly paralleled elsewhere, suggests that they were made specially for the cave,
presumably for ritual purposes.
The most frequent shape is the ladle. The sheer volume of this vessel type (186 examples
identified), and the consistency of its manufacture suggests that it played an important role
within cave activities. Its shape is also rare outside Agiasmatsi in the main period of cave use,
roughly third century BCto the first century AD. The closest comparison comes from the Bronze
Age in the form of 'ladles', known from several sites, including Palaikastro and Kommos, and
'braziers', one of the most popular Minoan shapes and extant from sites across the island from
MM III to LM III. These vessels come from domestic and funerary contexts and are similar to
the Agiasmatsi ladles in their flat base, shallow bowl, and trefoil rim produced by the attachment
of a single-attachment handle. However, they often lack the everted rim and their handles are
not usually hooked but are either rounded and narrowing to a tip or flattened and broad, as in a
strap handle.3' These braziers were also used for scooping or burning charcoal or incense--in
some way related to fire; these are commonly referred to as 'fireboxes'.32After the end of the
Bronze Age, examples of small, flat-based bowls with single-attachment handles are rare,
although a vessel from Cyprus dated tentatively to the seventh century shows a similar shape.33
Aside from the Agiasmatsi vessels, only two other sites on Crete show a similar shape. A small
sanctuary dedicated to Poseidon, dated to the fourth-second centuries BC, at Tsiskiana in the
eparchy of Selinon just west of Sphakia contained a small, shallow bowl with trefoil rim and a
single-attachment handle, along with a large quantity of bull figurines. This vessel has an everted
rim but is only slightly pushed in where the handle attaches; the handle is also broad and flatter
than the rounded or tubular handles of the Agiasmatsi ladles. At Knossos, fill from a cistern
dating to the second century BC includes several ladles, though they have strap handles.34
Household 'ladles' come from Classical Athens, but these flat-based bowls with a single
horizontal handle terminating in rings only vaguely resemble the cave ladles.35
The popular Bronze Age brazier/ladle thus makes a limited appearance in post-Minoan
Crete, but only at the Agiasmatsi cave does it occur in significant numbers. Two
interpretations can explain this re-emergence: either the shape went out of widespread use
after the LM III C period but continued to be known and produced in a few select areas, or
the ladle form was forgotten entirely after the Bronze Age until the Hellenistic period when it
was reintroduced at several sites (e.g. Agiasmatsi and Selinon). The latter proposal seems more
probable in view of the available evidence; no post-Minoan, pre-Hellenistic examples are
known that suggest a continuous use of the form. The shape was evidently familiar to the
occupants of Agiasmatsi cave, for they reproduced its characteristic features while combining
3' L. V. Watrous, Kommosiii. The Late BronzeAge Pottery 5J

Bailey (n. 20), 216-1I7, no. Q283 and pl. 93 (7th c. BC).
(Princeton, 1992), 77, no. 1315 and fig. 49; 95, no. 1653 and 34The majorfindsfromthe sanctuaryhavebeen put on display
fig. 62 and pl. 42; P. P. Betancourt, The Historyof Minoan in the Khania museum (M. Andreadaki-Vlasaki,The Countyof
Pottery(Princeton, 1985), 161, fig. Ii7; and L. Mercando, kMania its Monuments
through (Ministryof CultureArchaeological
'Lampade, lucerne, bracieri di Fest6s', ASA 36-7 (i974-5), Receipts Fund; Athens, 1997), 59, 61-2). The date and dedication
o102-67, esp. 116-22. aresuppliedby an inscription.Knossos, n.
abov0 25.
32 H. Georgiou, 'Minoan fireboxes', SMEA 21 (1980), Agoraxii. Black
B. A. Sparkesand L. Talcott, TheAthenian
123-92; and 'Coarse wares and technology', in O. 3.
and Plain Pottery and
(Princeton, 1970), 228-9, nos. 199I1-2 pl.
Krzyszkowskaand L. Nixon (eds),MinoanSociety.
Proceedings
of 96; these 'ladles' are dated by context to the 5th c. and
the CambridgeColloquium,1981 (Bristol, 1983), 75-92. 420-390 BC respectively.
them into a canonical vessel form that suited their own purposes. The impetus for such an
adoption, however, cannot be known. It may be that the ladle shape satisfied a need not
supplied by the inhabitants' current repertoire of pottery vessels; however, there could also
have been an attempt to evoke an earlier period.36
But even if it was a later re-creation of an earlier form, it need not have maintained the
original function of the vessel. If they were braziers, the Agiasmatsi vessels could have been
used for both domestic cooking and the preparation of burnt offerings for rituals; their
numbers certainly complement the quantity of dining wares in general from the cave.
However, none of these vessels shows traces of burning on either their interiors or exterior,
suggesting that they did not function as 'braziers' in this context.37 The absence of evidence
for burning does not seem merely to be a factor of their soft clay and generally ill-preserved
exterior surfaces, for all the lamps from the cave, even those made from the Powder Ware,
show clear burn marks on their nozzles. Moreover, there were no observed ash deposits in the
cave, although small traces of charcoal were noted.
It is likely that the ladles served a ritual function. The distinction between ritual and
domestic pottery is based primarily on the occurrence of the shape at other sites and the
proportion of assemblages which it constitutes. A cup, for instance, may be a domestic object,
although it can also be used for ritual activity. The decision as to whether a cup is domestic or
ritual on any particular occasion will depend both on where it is found and on its place in the
overall assemblage. The Agiasmatsi ladles, however, are never part of domestic assemblages
elsewhere in Sphakia and are only vaguely similar to the clearly domestic 'ladles' from Athens.
In addition at Agiasmatsi they form a strikingly high proportion of the finds of this period.
Their closest parallel comes from the fourth-second century BC sanctuary of Poseidon in
Selinon, whose vessels also show no traces of burning. The ladles in the Agiasmatsi cave may
have been used as pateraeor dippers, for transferring or pouring liquid offerings. In this case,
they would require liquid from another source. There are only seven fragments of large open
vessels, such as kraters and basins, which does not suggest significant amounts of mixing.
However, there are many fragments of small closed vessels, such as beakers or jugs, which
implies at least some transport of liquids; whether these would be able to bring a liquid (water,
wine, or oil) from a distance is unknown, and it may be that Agiasmatsi itself contained a
water source in antiquity. None is evident today, but in antiquity caves were often selected for
use based on a ready supply of running or dripping water either inside or nearby the cave's
mouth, and the actual name of the cave is probably derived from dwyd gcameaning 'holy
spring'.38 But while the ladles would not require a spout for pouring and indeed many paterae
36 While it is common for prehistoricshapes to continue into 37 For a discussion of lamps in ritual contexts, see E.
later periods, it is rare for such forms to be readopted after a Parisinou, Artificial illumination in Greek cult practice of
significant gap in later periods. For instance, the Early Iron the Archaic and the Classical periods: mere practical
Age, Aeolic grey ware from NW Anatolia maintains several necessity?', Thetis,4 (1997),95-108.
elements characteristicof the region'sprehistoricpottery; see 38 J. M. Wickens, The Archaeology and History of Cave
N. P. Bayne, The Grey Wares of North-WestAnatolia in the Use in Attica, Greece from Prehistoricthrough Late Roman
Middle and Late BronzeAge and the EarlyIron Age and their Times (Ph.D. Diss., Indiana University, 1986), 52-61. On the
Relationto the EarlyGreekSettlements(D.Phil.thesis,Oxford, etymology of Agiasmatsi we are grateful for advice from
1963), I65. We thank Nigel Spencer for this reference.For the Professor P. A. Mackridge, who notes that the ending of
more general tendency to continue or resurrect prehistoric 'Aaci&do0t is unexpected and that the etymology in A.
religious practices in later periods, see B. C. Dietrich, Peristerakis, )2/aWKlava (Athens, 1991), 80, I77, from to
'Evidence of Minoan religious traditionsand their survivalin dtytdt, is wrong.
the Mycenaeanand Greekworld',Historia,31 (1982),1-12.
AGIASMATSI: A GREEK CAVE SANCTUARY IN SPHAKIA, SW CRETE 45I
have only a vertical rim, the shape of the Agiasmatsi vessels, with their everted rim pushed out
over their handles, is not particularly suitable for accurate pouring, although spilling may not
have been a concern.39
Another explanation is that these vessels may have been used for serving or eating food,
either in a purely domestic context or as part of ritual dining. The wide range of small open
vessels from Agiasmatsi includes many shapes that also appear, for instance, at Temple C at
Kommos: tulip cups and the eponymous Kommos cups.40 It has been suggested that ritual
banquets were held at night at Temple C, because of the large number of animal bones,
lamps, and other pottery, specifically unguentaria, small bowls, and stemmed lekanai found
there. This assemblage is very similar to that of Agiasmatsi, which also contains one
unguentarium fragment (70), along with the high proportion of small cups and bowls. It may
be that the cave, too, held banquets at which the ladles were specifically used.
It is also possible that the ladles served a secondary function as offerings and were dedicated
in the cave once ritual dining had been completed. None of these vessels has been found in
the surrounding area in the numerous H-R sites in the Frangokastello area, where the users of
the cave probably lived. The fragments in Inner Chamber I were found placed in a high,
table-like plateau enclosed by stalagmites and this placement must have been deliberate; the
majority of this material are Powder Wares, a mixture of ladles and multiple-nozzle lamps.
Either specific areas were set aside for these dedications, with the lamps providing light for
these rituals, or the finds were swept into one area after the completion of the rites.
IV. AGIASMATSI IN CONTEXT

Sacred caves on Crete have been the subject of much scholarly attention.4' The main focus of
interest has been in sacred caves of the Prehistoric period, like the Kamares cave or that at
Amnisos (hence the original pressure to date Agiasmatsi to this period).42 But caves also had
sacred functions in the Graeco-Roman period, when they were dedicated to a variety of
deities.43
The two most famous sacred caves in use in the Iron Age are the Idaean Cave on the
eastern slopes of Mount Psiloritis and the Dictaean Cave at Psychro on the south-west side of
the Lasithi Plateau. Both caves have rich finds of the Geometric and Archaic periods, but both
then go out of use until the Roman period.44 The same pattern is found also at some other
39 For similar vessels in metal used as paterae, see M. khronon sta Khania', HErpaypdva zoi E AldOvovg
Barbera, 'I materiali dell'Antiquariumdel Museo Nazionale KpflpoAo0yltoi EZvVE5piov(Ay. Nlc6oaog) [Heraklion,
Romano: ultime indagini, prime conclusioni', Archeologia 1981], i. 301-21); Pan and Nymphs (cf. RE xvii: '558-I572 s.v.
Laztiale,xii.i (Quaderni di Archeologia Etrusco-Italica, Nymphs); Eileithyia (Amnisos:above, n. 42).
Consiglio Nazionale delle Richerche; Rome, i995), 213-23. 44 Idaean cave: J. A. Sakellarakis, 'The Idaean cave.
4oShaw (n. i8), 226 and pls 48 c and 59 a. Minoan and Greek worship', Kernos, I (1988), 203-14;
4' P. Faure, Fonctionsdes cavernescreitoises
(Paris, 1964) and Rutkowski and Nowicki 1996: 26-9; A. Chaniotis,
'Cavernes sacrees de la Crite antique', CretanStudies,4 'Plutarchos, praeses insularum', ZPE 68 (1978), 227-31 and
(1994), 77-83; Tyree 1974; Rutkowski and Nowicki 1996. For 'Mita dyvooxrl inrlry yta trl XcapcLia oto Ia0io 'Avtpo
Cretan caves in general see E. Platakis,jnrXcalcaicxi dXal acvrv ioatrw apXatttrlmt', HlrEpay!.tdvarov fz
cdpautrcai ,Ptoptpai
t Kprzj r (Herakleion, 1973). 1986 (Khania,
ArlE8vosg KE1roAo7KroIni Zve6p[ov, XCXavti
4' Kamares: Tyree 1974: 38--40; Rutkowski and Nowicki 1990), i.2. 393-401 reveals a LR visitor to the cave. Dictaean
1996: 30-2. Amnisos: Amnisos, i (Berlin, 1992); Rutkowski and cave: L. V. Watrous, The CaveSanctuaryof Zeus at Psychro.A
Nowicki 1996: 21-4. Studyin Extra-UrbanSanctuariesin Minoanand Early IronAge
43e.g. Zeus (Idaean and Dictaean caves; below n. 44); Crete (Aegaeum 15; Liege and Austin, TX, 1996); Rutkowski
Demeter e.g. M. Pologiorgi, 'Latreutiki spilia istorikon and Nowicki 1996: 7-19.
Cretan sacred caves: Melidoni probably has a gap between Protogeometric and Roman;
Patsos, a rock shelter, was a PH shrine, and later has A sherds but nothing then until R
material, including a statue of Pan; Tsoutsouros, which has LM III and G material has
nothing between the fifth century and ER.45 This striking pattern requires explanation.
Watrous has suggested that the Early Iron Age flourishing of the Idaean and Dictaean caves is
directly related to their dedication to Zeus, who could serve as a supra-polis guarantor of the
cosmic order of the newly emerging poleis of the eighth and seventh centuries.46
This is an attractive explanation, but the gap visible at Melindoni, Patsos and Tsoutsouros
also needs to be explained, perhaps in terms of more local transformations. In any case this
pattern of cave use is not universal. Amnisos also has a gap after the PH and G finds, but here
renewed use begins slightly earlier, in the Hellenistic period, and the Lera cave, whose finds
run from the Neolithic to the Roman periods, had ritual use from at least the Classical period
onwards (with possible ritual use in LM III).47The new (or renewed) religious use of the Lera
cave is to be explained in terms of the new prosperity of Kydonia in this period.
The explanation of cave use in terms of local settlement patterns and site hierarchies is
crucial. Caves used for ritual purposes in the Bronze Age or the Graeco-Roman period have
very varied sets of artifacts: weapons at Arkhalokhori, pottery at Kamares, figurines at
Psychro, or bronzes at the Idaean cave. In this respect they contrast strikingly with the figurine
finds from Bronze Age peak sanctuaries, which are strikingly consistent across the island.48
Whereas peak sanctuaries might have been dedicated to a single deity, the so-called Great
Goddess, caves were dedicated to a wide range of deities. They were simply convenient
locations sometimes exploited by local communities for religious purposes, and used in
relation to whichever deity was locally appropriate.
The pattern of use of the Agiasmatsi cave is also to be explained in terms of the local and
changing settlement pattern (FIG. Io). The systematic transecting done by the Sphakia Survey
in this region means that this cave can be better interpreted in its local context than any
other small-scale Cretan cave.49 FIG. 2 labels the three main A-H sites in the foothills and two
LR ones on the plain (nos i-5), plus as dots the other Graeco-Roman sites. The
Frangokastello fort and the villages of Patsianos and Kapsodasos are also given, for
orientation.
Thirty-four sites with a Graeco-Roman phase have been identified by the Sphakia Survey in
the region of Frangokastello. This region (Region 8 in our numeration) runs from Komitades
in the west to the end of the eparchy in the Ag. Marina area in the east, and up as far as
Asphendou and Kallikrati in the north. FIG. 2 shows the central section of Region 8. FIG. II
displays the spread of Graeco-Roman sites from the whole region by period. The earliest
Graeco-Roman site, just west of this map, is at Kolokasia Kastro (height 520-630 m), which
45 Melidoni: Tyree 1974: 43-5; AR 36 (1989-90), 80; 48 A. Peatfield, 'Rural ritual in Bronze Age Crete: the
Rutkowskiand Nowicki 1996: 63-5. Patsos:Tyree 1974:45-7; peak sanctuary at Atsipadhes', CAJ 2 (1992), 59-87; id.,
Rutkowskiand Nowicki 1996: 42-4. Tsoutsouros:Tyree 1974: 'After the "Big Bang"--what? or Minoan symbols and
31-3; Rutkowskiand Nowicki 1996: 39-40. shrines beyond palatial collapse', in Alcock and Osborne (n.
46Watrous(n. 44),
97-111-.
4), 19-36; D. W. Jones, Peak Sanctuariesand SacredCavesin
47 Amnisos: Amnisos i. 84. Lera: Tyree 1974: 56-8; A. Minoan Crete: A Comparison of Artifacts (Studies in
Guest-Papamanoliand A. Lambraki, 'Les grottes de Ldra et Mediterranean Archaeology and Literature PB 156;
de l'Arkoudia en Crete occidentale aux 6poques Jonsered, 1999).
pr~historiques et historiques', A. Delt. 31 (1976), i. I78-243; 49See the provisionaldiscussion in Nixon and Moody et al.
Rutkowskiand Nowicki 1996:59-61. 1994 (n. 2).
FIG.Io. View from Agiasmatsicave over Frangokastelloplain.
runs from LM III to G.5o The next site, just east of Kolokasia Kastro, is on the hill Kephala
(260 m) west-north-west of the modern village of Patsianos and on its lower slopes to the east
(FIG.2 no. I). The pottery runs through from G to C, with a fall-off in H and practically no
later material; it is particularly notable that this span includes material of the sixth century BC,
which is otherwise very elusive on Crete. The settlement seems to have moved down in the C
period to the slopes and saddle just behind Patsianos at an elevation of 16o m. The pottery
from here runs from the fifth to the third centuries BC. The shift to a more friendly location,
paralleled elsewhere on Crete at the end of the A period, is presumably related to increased
feelings of stability and security, though the new settlement still had a watch tower on the
ridge above it, which afforded an excellent view of the Frangokastello plain.
There were also other settlements in the foothills, in locations similar to those near
Patsianos. There is G-H material from the east slopes of a hill south-east of Agiasmatsi,
Skaloti Profitis Ilias (FIG. 2 no. 2, height 14o m), which seems to have been another nucleated
settlement. On the south-east-facing slopes just east of this site there is a smaller H-R site,
Skaloti Terraces (FIG.2 no. 3, height 92-164 m). Some material was found round a spring at
the east end of the hillside, but the main site was upslope, near the crest of the hill.
5o K. Nowicki, 'Report on investigations in Greece p. 119published the first note on this site.
VIII. Studies in I99I', Archeologia, 43 (1992), PP. 113-19, at
25
25
21
20
15
11
10 9
5
5-
3
0-
G A C H R LR
FIG. II. Principalperiods of the Graeco-Roman sites in the FrangokastelloRegion.
These G-H sites on the foothills, like the later VT villages in similar locations, must have
used both the plain in front of them and the mountains rising behind them. Though their use
of most of the plain has left no archaeological traces and the Survey has not explored the
middle slopes systematically, we do know that they had access to the sea, only 2 km to the
south. There was a significant Graeco-Roman site just south of Ag. Nikitas (FIG. 2 no. 5),
where facilities for boats will have been better before than after the great uplift of the LR
period.
The worshippers at the Agiasmatsi cave presumably came from these A-H sites. If so,
however, they evidently used their religious pottery, i.e. the Powder Ware ladles and lamps,
only in the cave for none of these vessels have appeared at any other known site in Sphakia.
There is no secure evidence for other Greek religious sites in this Region, though two reused
column capitals from Komitades (in the west part of the Region) must have come from public
buildings, which might have been religious.
The main A-H sites seem to have become dormant after the mid-first century AD:
practically no middle Roman or LR pottery was found at Skaloti Terraces (FIG. 2 no. 3); and
very little from Skaloti Profitis Ilias (FIG. 2 no. 2) or from Patsianos. There is in fact a real
disjunction in site histories in this Region. Apart from Skaloti Terraces, there are no clear sites
of the ER period, and by LR the picture has become very different. In Region 8 there are
twenty-one sites of the R period and twenty-five LR sites, respectively 62% and 74% of the
thirty-four sites in Region 8 with a Graeco-Roman phase. Apart from Agiasmatsi, only four of
these sites have any Graeco-Roman phase earlier than R. In other words, the site trajectories
show that there is little overlap in this area between earlier and later Iron Age sites.5' This
physical move by people to other sites, even though only a kilometre or two away, surely
accounts for the termination of worship in the Agiasmatsi cave in the first century AD.52
The LR sites on the Frangokastello plain and immediately to the east are mostly quite
small, sometimes as little as 500 m apart, and are probably individual farm buildings. There
are also two larger LR sites in the central part of the plain and one in the western. The largest
is Ag. Astratios, which has a number of separate stone piles covering 3.25 ha, which
presumably represents some form of nucleated settlement (FIG. 2 no. 4).53 In addition there is
the large multiple-period coastal site of Ag. Nikitas-Ag. Kharalambos, which extends into the
LR period (FIG.2 no. 5).
The new LR phase of occupation of the region is clearly affected by the rise of Christianity,
with the sacred landscape changed radically. Two churches were built on the plain in this
period, one at Ag. Astratios, the other at Ag. Nikitas.54 That at Ag. Astratios was on a grand
scale, as was characteristic of church building on Crete in the LR period, though that at Ag.
Nikitas was much smaller. Both had smaller chapels built into them in the BV period. There
was no longer much call for Agiasmatsi as a sacred site, and it is surely in this period that the
cave was used in connection with beekeeping.55
Subsequently, the cave is known as a refuge site in the struggles of the Cretans against
Turkish rule. When Omer Paga advanced into Sphakia in 1867, there was no time to take
women and children out of the eparchy by sea and in some cases they fled for safety to various
caves; ninety people from Kapsodasos are said to have fled to Agiasmatsi, in such haste that
they could not take food and water.6
The Agiasmatsi cave varied between being a place of occasional use by shepherds,
beekeepers or others, to being a religious site, to being a place of refuge. But the cave is not an
isolated site, a mere dot on a map. It is crucial that the Sphakia Survey also studied the
settlement pattern of the area at a quite microscopic level, and the associated domestic
artefact assemblages. This changing settlement pattern provides the immediate context for the
changing uses of the cave. When in the Hellenistic and Early Roman period the cave was used
for religious purposes, it was one of the major religious foci of the local sacred landscape.57
Scholars sometimes imagine that they know about cave function for all periods and places
because they know about it for one. But in fact a similar type of location, a cave, does not
always receive a similar type of use. Even when caves have religious functions, the heavily
5' The notion of 'site trajectory'was developed by Nixon. 54I. ESanders, Roman Crete(Warminster, 1982), 123.
See her articles, 'Minoan palaces and their connection with 55The religious history of Attica, where there was renewed
outlying settlements in the Second Palace Period', in R. pagan use of caves in late antiquity, was very different: G.
Hagg and N. Marinatos (eds), The Functionof the Minoan Fowden, 'City and mountain in late Roman Attica',JHS io8
Palaces:Conference on theFunctionof theMinoanPalaces,Swedish (1988), 48-59, at 54-7; S. Alcock, 'Minding the gap in
Institute,Athens, 1985 (Stockholm, 1987) , 95-9; 'Minoan Hellenistic and Roman Greece', in Alcock and Osborne (n.
settlements and Greek sanctuaries', in
HIrpayidtva (n. 44), 34), 247-61.
i. 2. 59-67. 56Above, n. 29. The cave is said by Andreas Daradoulis,
52 There was a major mudslide on to the plain in the our local source, to have been a refuge again during World
historic period, but at present it is impossible to date it War II.
closely. Although the pottery contained in it seems to be 57For the sacred landscape of the Frangokastelloplain in
Graeco-Roman, it buries the LR basilica at Ag. Nikitas, the Byzantine, Venetian and Turkish periods see Lucia
suggesting a Byzantine to Venetian date for the event. Nixon, 'Archaeologicalsurvey and sacred landscapes in early
53M. S. E Hood, 'Some ancient sites in south-west Crete', modern Greece: outlying churches and icon stands in
BSA 62 (1967),47-56 at 55-6. Sphakia, SW Crete' (forthcoming).
karstified landscape of Crete, with its thousands of caves, does not generate a uniform sacred
landscape. A final example will clarify this point. It is well known that most BVT chapels
dedicated to St Antony are located in 'caves'. But in fact these chapels are not built in true
caves, but rather in rock shelters or overhangs. We know of no true caves used as BVT
chapels. Thus people selected, and very precisely, which features of the karstified landscape of
Crete they wished to use for religious purposes. PH and GACHR preferences were for caves;
the BVT preference was different and focussed instead on overhangs.
Caves have uses and meanings peculiar to their own locality and period, and have to be
placed in their own immediate contexts. Diachronic archaeological survey in the
Frangokastello Plain has therefore enabled us to contextualize the Agiasmatsi Cave, and to
suggest how its use and meaning changed over time.
V. CATALOGUE OF THE FINDS
This catalogue presents the diagnostic ceramic material from Agiasmatsi Cave. Although 490
sherds were collected, only 21% of this assemblage is diagnostic in preserving decoration or
shape. The fragments are normally small and very worn, and the original surface is often lost.
In many cases it is not possible to identify the shape or ware specifically.
The first section of this catalogue contains the ceramic finds. These are divided into the
eight classifications noted above. Within these groups, the vessels are presented from the
earliest to the latest; finds with no known dates are at the end of the section.
Each catalogue entry begins with the type of vessel. Due to the poor state of preservation, these
are sometimes of necessity general designations (i.e. bowl/cup, cooking pot). The extant part(s) of
the vessel follows, with plate or figure reference if any. The provenience in the cave and the one or
two catalogue number(s) on the sherd are given: the first of these indicates the initial cataloguing
according to find-spot (not all sherds will have this number); the second is a later number for all
cave finds. Any traces of decoration or surface treatment remaining on the sherd are noted. The
measurements are given: overall dimensions, estimated diameter of body, rim, handle, base; and
wall or handle thickness. The surface and fresh break colour and Munsell designations follow
(when exact Munsell matches are unavailable, a range or a 'near' match is given). The hardness
and texture of both surface and core are documented. The Sphakia Survey fabric family is given
with the primary inclusion, when this could be identified, followed (when applicable) by the
subclassification ofware. A date is offered, when available; dating these sherds is difficult owing to
the singularity of much of the Agiasmatsi material in both shape and fabric. Sherds often span
several periods (e.g. A-H) or may fall into one or two periods (e.g. A/C). Dates that are probable
or possible on the basis of fabric, decoration, or the general assemblage of the site are indicated
by the addition of a question mark. The catalogue entry ends with any available comparanda.
THE CERAMIC FINDS
Decorated
TableWJares
I. Cylindrical cup: flat base with ext. moulding (2 2. Carinated cup/bowl: flat base. Main Chamber
joined frags.).Main Chamber (A-3i9; MD-47). Traces (A-338; MD-29). Black paint on int. and ext. MPD:
of BG on int. and ext. MPD: 2 cm; Th.: 0.45 cm; Est. 2.5 cm; Wall Th.: 0.45 cm; Est. D.: 6 cm.
D.: 5 cm. Putty/brown surface (near 7.5 YR 7/4); Pink/brown surface (7.5 YR 8/6 to 8/8);
putty/brown core (near io YR 7/3). Hard, gritty pink/brown core (near 7.5 YR7/6 to 7/4). Medium-
surfaces; hard, porous-looking breaks. Siltstone hard, powdery surfaces; hard, grainy core. MF pink
Family:Silver-blueSpotted Ware. EM/H-R. ware. A.
3. Cup: everted rim (FIG. 12; PLATE 67). Entrance g. One-handled cup: bulbous bs with strap handle
Chamber (A-416;IntI-3). Black coating on int. and ext. scar. Main Chamber (A-4o). Dark-red metallic gloss
MPD: 3-45 cm; Th.: 0.45 cm; Est. D.: io-II cm. int. and ext. (2.5 YR 4/4). MPD 3.8 X 2.3 cm; Wall
Putty/brown surface and core (7.5 YR 7/4 and IO YR Th.: 0.4-0.5 cm; Est. D.: 8 cm. Pink/tan surface and
6/4). Medium-hard, powdery, smooth surfaces; hard, core (5 YR 8/4 and 7/4). Soft, powdery, smooth
grainy breaks. Sand ware. A. surfaces;hard, grainy,porous-lookingbreaks. MF Pink
Familywith silver mica. C-H.
4. Bowl: everted, concave rim. Inner Chamber II (A- Coldstream 1973: 24-5, fig. 14, no. Bi9 (late-5th c.
324; SD-5). Dark glaze on int. and ext. MPD: 2.3 X 3.6 BC).
cm; Wall Th.: 0.25 cm; Est. D.: 7 cm. Tan brown
surface and core (7.5 YR 7/4 to 7/6); tan/brown core io. Cup: thickened rim (FIG. 12; PLATE 68). Inner
(7.5 YR7/6). Medium-hard, powdery, smooth surfaces; Chamber II (A-468). Red paint on int. and ext.; 3
medium-hard, grainy breaks. MF Buff Family with grooves on top surface. MPD: 5.2 X 2.7 cm; Est. D.: 12
very fine sand. A (6th c. BC). cm. Light-brown/orange surface (5 YR 6/6); orange
The shape of this vessel is very similar to Lakonian core (5 YR 6/8). Soft, gritty surfaces; medium-soft,
dipped bowls, although the fabric is Cretan; for shape, grainy breaks.MF Orange Familywith mica. C-H.
see C. M. Stibbe, Laconian DrinkingVesselsandOtherOpen
Shapes.LaconianBlack-glazed Pottery,ii (ScriptaMinora,4; xI. Cretan cylindrical cup/bowl: everted rim (FIG.12;
Amsterdam, 1994), 159, B2, fig. 173. PLATE 67). Main Chamber (A-4o6; MD-g).
Brown/red to red/orange/brown gloss on ext. and
5. ?Peloponnesian (not Lakonian or Corinthian), one- int. (5 YR 3/4 to 2.5 YR 5/8). MPD: 5.7 cm; Th.: 0.4
handled cup: short, rounded, everted rim (FIG.12). cm; Est. D.: 11 cm. Brown/orange surface and core
Entrance Chamber (A-85; IntI-4). Black paint on ext. (7.5 YR5/6). Medium-hard, gritty, powdery surfaces;
and over rim on int. MPD: 4.45 cm; Wall Th.: 0.3 cm; very hard, grainy breaks. Sand Family with feldspar.
Est. D.: 7 cm. Buff surface and core (7.5 YR 7/6 to 6/6). LC-H/ER.
Very soft, smooth surfaces; very soft, porous-looking See, for instance, Callaghan 1981:16, no. 45, fig. 45.
breaks. Fine Buff Family with silver mica. A-C (late
6th-5th c. BC). I2. Cylindrical cup: flat base. Main Chamber (A-37i;
MD-34). BG ext. and ?int.; deep groove at wall/base
6. Small jug (?Cretan;not Lesbian):small strap handle junction. MPD: 1.I cm; Wall Th.: 0.3 cm; Est. D.: 4
(PLATE 67). Main Chamber (A-256). Black paint, thinly cm. Grey/brown surface (io YR 7/3); light-brown to
applied; slight rounded ridge on upper surface. MPD: grey/blue core (near 2.5 YR 5/o). Hard, smooth
1.7 X o.8 cm: MPL: 5.9 cm. Green/grey surfaces (near surfaces and breaks. MF Grey Family with mica and
5 YR 5/1); blue-grey core (2.5 YR 5/o). Hard, smooth fine sand. LC.
surfaces; hard, fine, gritty breaks. MF Grey Family
with sand and mica. A-C. 13. Bowl: small rounded, everted rim with vertical oval
scar (handle or ex-applied decoration). Main Chamber
7. Saucer/dish/saltcellar: recessed base (FIG.12). Main (A-449; MD-32). BG on int. and ext.; groove on lower
Chamber (A-35, A-36). Broad, shallow groove on int. ext. MPD 1.8 X 2.05 cm; Wall Th.: 0.25 cm; Est. D.: 5
at junction of floor and wall; BG on ext. and cm. Light orange surface and core (7.5 YR7/6). Soft,
underside; ?ex-BG on int. MPD: 2.35 X cm; Est. powdery, smooth surfaces; hard, grainy, powdery
D. Floor: 12-16 cm. Pink/buff surface 5.95 (near 7.5 YR breaks. MF Orange Family with fine silver mica.
7/6); pink/buff core (5 YR 6/6 to 7.5 YR 7/6). Soft, LC/EH.
smooth surfaces; hard, smooth breaks. Fine Pink
Familywith fine silver mica. A-EH. 14. Tulip cup: strap handle (FIG.12). Main Chamber
(A-387; Int2-7). Dark paint on all surfaces. Handle:
8. Kommos cup: short, everted rim with strap handle 0.95 X 0.4 cm; Wall Th.: 0.3 cm; Est. D. Wall: 7 cm.
(3 joined frags: 2 rim and I bs). Inner Chamber II (A- Tan/brown surface (near 5 YR 6/6); orange/brown
325, 326, 450; SD-1). Dark glaze int. and ext. Handle: core (5 YR 6/8). Medium-hard, smooth surfaces;
0.6 X 1.05 cm; Wall Th.: 0.25 cm; Est. D.: 6.5 cm. medium-hard, grainy breaks. MF Orange Family with
Buff/tan surface and core (7.5 YR7/4). Hard, powdery, mica and white sandstone. LC/H.
smooth surfaces; very hard, grainy breaks. MF Buff For general form, see Callaghan 1978: 9-1o, nos.
Familywith fine sand. C. 19-23, fig. 6.
For later examples, see J. W. Shaw, 'Excavations at
Kommos (Crete) During 1980', Hesp. 49 (1981), nos. x5. ?Cretan carinated cup: bs. Main Chamber (A-18).
C3142, C2841, pl. 59 a. Yellow/orange/brown slip on int. and ext. MPD: 4.3
7
10
3
5
11
14 18
17
21 31
26
FIGS12-I9. Drawings of pottery: I2. Fine Table Scale I : 3.

3-3I.
X 2.4 cm; Th.: 0.5-0.7 cm; Est. D.: 8 cm. Light-orange surface (7.5 YR 7/4 to 6/4); buff/orange core (7.5 YR
to brown surface (near 7.5 YR 7/6); orange/ brown 7/6). Soft, powdery surfaces;hard, grainy breaks. MF
core (5 YR 6/6 to 5/6). Soft, powdery,smooth surfaces; Buff Family with sand and mica. H/ER (2nd c. BC-Ist
hard, grainy breaks. MF Orange Family with sand and c. AD).
sponge spicules. H.
Callaghan 1978, 19, no. 66, fig. Io. ?Campanianthin-walled cup: vertical rim (4 joined
g19.
frags.).Main Chamber (A-261;MD-35). Groove on int.
i6. Cup: oval handle (PLATE67). Main Chamber(A-308). and ext. MPD: 4.75 X 3.6 cm; Wall Th.: 0.25 cm; Est.
Dark, mottled glaze on int. and ext. MPD: 1.5 X 0.65 D.: 12 cm. Orange/brown to red/orange/brown
cm; MPL: 5.2 cm. Light-grey/brownsurfacesand core surface (near 7.5 YR 6/4 to 5 YR 5/4); orange/
(io YR 6/3). Soft, powdery, smooth surfaces;medium- red/brown core (near 5 YR 5/6). Very hard, gritty,
hard, grainybreaks.Sand Familywith mica. H. bumpy surfaces; very hard, crumbly, rough breaks.
Sand Family with black, glassy mineral: Black-sand
17. CV: 2 non-joined frags. of shoulder with vertical, Ware, Campanian Ware. H/ER.
oval handle scar and scar of applied dec. below handle For Black-sand Ware, see D. P. S. Peacock,
(FIG. 12; PLATE 68). Main Chamber (A-20o1; MD-6). 'Pompeian Red Ware', in D. P. S. Peacock (ed.), Pottery
Incised and painted (red and black) reticulatedpattern and Early Commerce. and Tradein Roman
Characterization
on ext. Wall Th.: 0.35 cm; Est. D.: 11 cm. Orange andLaterCeramics (London, 1977), 147-62, esp. 149-58;
surface and core (7.5 YR 6/6). Soft, smooth, slightly R. Tomber and J. Dore, The National RomanFabric
powdery surfaces;hard, powdery breaks. Fine Orange ReferenceCollection:
A Handbook(1998),88-9.
Familywith silver mica. H.
20. Cup: everted, rounded rim. Entrance Chamber (A-
I8. Vertical mug: short disc base and vertical wall with 106).MPD: 2.6 X 1.4cm; WallTh.: 0.3 cm; Est. D.: 7 cm.
rounded junction (FIG. 12). Main Chamber (A-336; Orange/tan surface(7.5YR7/6); dark-orangecore (7.5YR
MD-5). Traces of grey/brown paint int. and ext. MPD: 6/6). Soft, powdery,smooth surfaces;hard, grainybreaks.
4 cm; Wall Th.: 0.45 cm; Est. D.: 5 cm. Buff/grey MF Orange Familywith mica and sand. H/ER.
21. ?Small, thin-walled beaker/jar: disc base (FIG. 12). Soft, grainy surfaces;medium-hard, grainy breaks.MF
Main Chamber (A-343; MD-7). MPD: 1.5 cm; Wall Family:Powderware (medium powder). H-R.
Th.: 0.3 cm; Est. D.: 3.2 cm. Orange/red to pink
surface (near 5 YR 5/6); orange core (5 YR 5/6). 29. Cylindrical cup: flat base. Main Chamber (A-478).
Medium-hard, smooth surfaces; hard, foliate breaks. Red gloss on ext.; ?ex-gloss on int. Thin groove at
Sand Familywith red ferrous. H/ER. junction of base and wall. MPD: 2.1 cm; Wall Th.: 0.4
cm; Est. D.: 6 cm. Pink/buff surface (2.5 YR 5/6);
22. Bowl/mug: everted, flat-topped rim. Entrance pink/buff core (near 7.5 YR 7/6). Soft, powdery
Chamber (A-377). MPD: 2.45 cm; Est. D.: 8 cm. surfaces; soft, grainy, melted-looking breaks. Fine
Pink/orange surface (5 YR 6/6-7.5 YR 7/4) Orange Familywith silvermica. LH/ER.
orange/brown core (7.5 YR 6/6). Soft, powdery,
smooth surfaces; hard, grainy breaks. MF Orange 30. Bowl/plate: slightly recessed base, vertical wall,
Familywith fine feldsparand sand. H-ER. rounded upright rim. Main Chamber (A-240).MPD: 4
Similar to a local slipped ware at Knossos: Sackett X 2.3 cm; Wall Th.: 0.35 cm; Est. D. Base: 15 cm; Est.
1992: 187, dep. A2, no. 58, pl. I3I. D. Rim: 22 cm. Pink/brown surface and core (near 5
YR 7/4). Medium-hard, powdery surfaces; medium-
23. Jar/jug: ring foot base with steeply rising wall. hard, bumpy breaks.Calcareous Family.LH-ER.
Main Chamber (A-374; Int2-4). Grey/red ?paint on For general shape, see P. Kenrick, Excavations at Sidi
ext. MPD: 3.5 cm; Wall Th.: 0.65 cm; Est. D.: 9 cm. KhrebishBenghazi(Berenice), iii. I. TheFinePottery(Supp.
Orange/brown surface (5 YR6/6 to 7/6); orange core to LibyaAntiqua,5; Tripoli, 1985), 259, no. 364.2, fig. 47.
(5 YR 5/8). Soft, soapy surfaces; hard, grainy breaks.
MF Orange Familywith mica. H-ER. 3I. North Italian thin-walled, sanded ware
hemispherical bowl: disc base (FIG. 12). Entrance
24. Cylindricaljug: strap handle. Main Chamber (A- Chamber (A-376; Inti-6). Sand mixed with paint and
362; BT-4). Grey/brown paint on all surfaces. MPD: applied to int. and ext. MPD: 3.15 X 2.9 cm; Wall Th.:
2.2 X 3.9 cm; Th.: 0.5 cm. Orange/brown surface and 0.25 cm; Est. D.: 2.5 cm. Dark-greysurface and core (5
core (5 YR 6.4-7.5 YR 6/6). Hard, grainy, almost Y 5/I to 4/I). Hard, crumbly, rough surfaces; hard,
smooth surfaces; very hard, smooth breaks. MF gritty, bumpy breaks. MF Grey Family with very fine
Orange Familywith fine sand. H-ER. sand. ER (early-midIst c. AD).
For general shape and treatment, see M. T.
25. Saucer/dish: recessed base. Main Chamber (A-39). Marabini Moevs, The RomanThin WalledPotteryfrom
MPD: 3.4 cm; Wall T.: 0.5 cm; Est. D.: 15 cm. Cosa (MAAR 32; Rome, 1973), 176-9, form 36, nos.
Orange/buff surface and core (5 YR 6/6). Soft, 316, 319, 321, pl. 35.
powdery surfaces; hard, slightly foliate breaks. Fine
Orange Familywith very fine feldspar.H-ER. 32. ?North Italian thin-walled beaker: bs. Entrance
Chamber (A-359; IntI-Io). Dark grey/brown paint on
26. Cylindrical cup: low disc base (FIG. 12; PLATE 67). int. and ext. Thin, horizontal incised lines on ext. at
Entrance Chamber (A-368; IntI-7). BG on ext.; broad top of frag. MPD: 2.7 X 3.25 cm; Wall Th.: 0.2 cm;
groove at int. wall/floor junction. MPD: 6.9 cm; Wall Est. D.: 6 cm. Grey/brown surface (7.5 YR4/o to 7.5
Th.: 0.3 cm; Est. D.: 9.5 cm. Light-brownto grey core YR 4/2); blue/grey core (7.5 YR 5/o). Very hard,
YR 5/4 to iO YR 5/1). Hard, smooth surfaces; hard, smooth surfaces; very hard, grainy breaks. MF Grey
(7"5 breaks.MF Tan Family.H-R.
grainy Familywith very fine sand: near Eggshell Ware.ER.
Notch on bottom ext. is similar to that on Cretan Sackett 1992: 166-7, pls. 164-5 for the type.
cylindricalcups: Callaghan 1981: 54-5, no. 53, fig. 9-
33. Saucer/shallow bowl: near rim and floor (2 joined
27. One-handled cup: bs with vertical strap handle frags.). Entrance Chamber (A-235; IntI-12). Broad,
scar. Main Chamber (A-365). Dark red, metallic gloss shallow groove with vertical rouletting on lower int.
on int. and ext. (near Io R 4/4). MPD: 3.35 cm; Wall wall. BG worn to red/black/brown on int. and ext.
Th.: 0.35 cm; Est. D.: 7 cm. Pink surface and core (5 MPD: 3.7 cm; Est. D. Groove: io cm. Pink/orange
YR 6/4 and 5/4). Medium, smooth surfaces; hard, surface (7.5 YR 8/6 to 7/6); pink/orange core (7.5 YR
grainy breaks.MF Pink Family.H-R. 7/4 to 7/6). Soft, powdery, smooth surfaces; hard,
grainy, slightly foliate breaks. MF Orange Family with
28. Jug: small, horizontal handle (PLATE68). Main very fine sand. ER.
Chamber (A-I47). Red gloss on all surfaces; thin,
lengthwise groove on underside. MPD: 0.7 X 1.8 cm. 34. Cylindrical cup: rim thickened to ext. and straight
Orange-brown surface and core (near 2.5 YR 6/6). wall. Main Chamber (A-121). Traces of dark red gloss
on int. and ext. (near 5 YR 5/4). MPD: 6.9 cm; Wall 39. Green dribble ware bowl: collared rim, ring foot
Th.: 0.3 cm; Est. D.: 9.5 cm. Bright-orangesurface and base, wall frags. (5 non-joined frags. Main Chamber
core (5 YR 6/6-6/8). Soft, powdery, smooth surfaces; (A-375a, d, e); Entrance Chamber (A-375b, d). Green
very hard, grainy breaks. MF Orange Family with paint beneath clear glaze int. and ext. Wall Th.: 0.4
silver mica. ER (Ist c. AD). cm; Est. D. Rim: 30 cm. Orange/brown surface (near
5 YR 6/6); Brick-red/brown core (near 2.5 YR 6/6).
35. SOV: flat base (PLATE68). Main Chamber (A-io4). Hard, smooth surfaces; hard, grainy, bumpy breaks.
Orange gloss on int. and ext. MPD: 5.15 X 2.6 cm; Sand Family with silver mica and feldspar (Mixed-
Est. D. Base: 5 cm. Bright-orange surface and core (5 sand Ware). From Thrace (either Didymoteichon or
YR7/6-7/8). Soft, powdery surfaces;hard, grainy core. Ganos). T.
MF Family: Powder ware with silver mica (coarse
powder). ER. 4o. Bowl: hooked rim, concave wall (2 non-joined
frags.). Main Chamber (A-260). White, purple, and
36. Cup/bowl: flat base (PLATE 68). Main Chamber (A- blue paint under tin pacified glaze on int. and ext.
205). Dark-redgloss on int. and ext. MPD: 2.95 X 3.85 MPD: 11X 4.3 cm; Wall Th.: 0.7 cm; Est. D.: 32 cm.
cm; Est. D. Base:5 cm. Lightorangesurfaceand core (7.5 Mustard-yellow/buffsurface and core (2.5 YR 8/4 and
YR 8/6 to 7.5 YR7/4-7/6). Soft, powdery surfaces;hard 8/6). Very hard, smooth surfaces;hard, grainy breaks.
breaks.MF Family:Powderware (finepowder).ER. MF Yellow Family with soft red and fine sand. From S.
Italy (Otranto area), 'late Majolica'. T.
37. Pedestal bowl: two torus-shaped pedestal-base
frags. Main Chamber (A-4o2, 404; MD-2o). Traces of 41. Bowl: everted rim. Inner Chamber II (A-290).
red/brown paint on ext. MPD: 2 X 4.1 cm; Est. D.: 8 Green/yellow glaze on int.; white slip under
cm. Cream/buff surface and core (near 2.5 YR 7/4). green/yellow glaze on ext. MPD: 4 X 2.9 cm. Grey
Medium-hard, smooth, powdery surfaces; hard, surface (io YR 4/I); brown core (near 7.5 YR 6/4).
slightly grainy breaks.Fine Buff Family.ER. Hard, smooth surface;very hard, bumpy breaks. Sand
At Knossos, this shape dates to the Ist c. AD; Sackett Familywith quartz. T
1992:201, dep. CI, no. 69, pl. 147.
42. Willow-patternware, shallow bowl/plate: rounded,
38. ESB bowl: slightly everted rim. Main Chamber (A- everted rim. Outside cave (A-33I). White and blue
380; MD-39). Dark orange gloss on int. and ext. (2.5 glazed geometric pattern int. and ext. MPD: 3.4 X 3.1
YR5.8); grooves on ext. wall. MPD: 3.4 cm; Wall Th.: cm; Wall Th.: 0.55 cm; Est. D.: 2I cm. Yellow/buff
0.25 cm; Est. D.: 15cm. Red surface and core (5 YR surface and core (Io YR 8/4). Very hard, smooth
6/8 and 6/6). Hard, powdery, smooth surfaces; hard, surfaces; very hard, grainy, vitrified breaks. Fine Buff
grainy breaks.Fine Red Family.ER. Family.T/Mod (I9th-2oth AD).
Ladles
43. Ladle: full profile (rim, wall, base) (FIG.13). Main Est. D. base: 5.6 cm. Orange/brown surface (7.5 YR
Chamber (A-I9, MD-4I). Dark paint on ext. MPD: 3.1 6/6); red/orange (2.5 YR6/6 to 5 YR 6/6). Medium-
cm; Wall Th.: 0.8 cm; Est. D. Base: 5 cm; Est. D. Rim: hard, powdery surfaces;very hard, foliate breaks. MF
13 cm. Orange/tan surface (7.5 YR7/4); tan core (7.5 Family:Powderware with silver mica (coarse powder).
YR 7/4 to 7/6). Soft, powdery surfaces; hard, grainy ?H-ER.
breaks. MF Family: Powder ware with quartz
(medium powder). ?H-ER. 46. Ladle: full profile with trefoil, everted rim and
extremely bulbous wall (2 non-joining frags.) (FIG.13).
44. Ladle: full profile (rim, wall, base, handle stump) Main Chamber (A-306, 307; Int2-io). MPD: 4.55 X
(FIG. 13; PLATE69). Main Chamber (A-30, MD-3). 7.45 cm; Wall Th.: 0.65 cm; Est. D Base: 5 cm.
Black paint on int. and ext. MPD: 4.3 cm; Wall Th: Buff/orange surface (7.5 YR 6/6); dark-orange/brown
0.45 cm; Est. D. Base: 5 cm. Light-orange surface (7.5 core (7.5 YR 6/6 to 6/8). Soft, gritty surfaces; hard,
YR 7/6); dark-orange core (near 5 YR 6/6). Soft, rough breaks. Soft surfaces; hard core. MMF with
powdery surfaces; hard, grainy breaks. MF Family: calcite. ?H-ER.
Powderware with fine sand (coarsepowder). ?H-ER.
47. Ladle: trefoil, everted rim frag. and upper wall
45. Ladle: full profile with grooved, flat-topped rim (5 (FIG. 13). Main Chamber (A-79, Int2-9). MPD: 5.2 X
joining frags.)(FIG.13). Inner Chamber II (A-44I; SD- 8.6 cm; Wall Th.: 0.7 cm. Orange surface (near 5 YR
7). MPD: 5.3 cm; Wall Th.: 0.4 cm; Est. D. rim: 16 cm; 6/6); dark-orange core (5 YR 5/8). Soft, gritty
46 47
44
43 48
45
52
50
51
53
Fig 13. Ladles 43-53. Scale 1:3.
surfaces;very hard, rough breaks. MF Family: Powder Wall Th.: 0.4 cm. Buff/orange/pink surface (Io YR 7/4
ware with soft red (coarsepowder). ?H-ER. to 7/6); orange core (near 5 YR 6/6). Soft, chalky
surfaces; hard, grainy breaks. MF Family: Powder
48. Ladle: everted, flat-topped rim and wall with high- Ware (fine powder). ?H-ER.
shoulder (FIG. 13). Entrance Chamber (A-II6, IntI-I).
Black paint int. and ext. MPD: 4-.35cm; Wall Th.: 0.65 Ladle: trefoil rim and round handle (FIG.14). Main
cm; Est. D: 9 cm. Buff/brown surface (7.5 YR 7/6); 55-
Chamber (A-415;MD-2). MPD: 6.9 cm; Handle: 1.6 X
orange core (7.5 YR6/6). Very soft, powdery surfaces; I.5 cm. Buff surface and core (7.5 YR 8/6 and 7/6).
hard, grainy breaks. MF Family: Powder ware Soft, slightly powdery surfaces;hard, gritty breaks. MF
(medium powder). ?H-ER. Family:PowderWare (fine powder). ?H-ER.
49. Ladle: trefoil rim with round, horizontal handle 56. Ladle: horizontal handle: oval, pinched, flattened
(PLATE69). Inner Chamber II (A-439). Fingerprintson tip (FIG.14).Main Chamber (A-96). Black paint on ext.
underside of handle. MPD: 8.8 X 3.85 cm; D. Handle: MPD: 8.9 cm; Handle: 1.8 X I.7 cm. Orange surfaces
1.8 X i.9 cm. Orange surface (near 7.5 YR 7/6); and core (7.5 YR 7/6-6/6). Soft, smooth, powdery
red/brown to grey core (5 YR 6/I). Soft, smooth, surfaces; hard, grainy breaks. MF Family: Powder
powdery surfaces; hard, rough breaks. MF Family: Ware (coarse powder). ?H-ER.
Powderware (coarsepowder). ?H-ER.
57. Ladle: round handle: curved, with pointed tip (FIG.
5o. Ladle: everted rim (FIG.13). Entrance Chamber (A- 14).Main Chamber (A-I27).MPD: 1.65 cm; Handle: 1.3
357). MPD: 4.2 X 3.1 cm; Wall Th.: 0.4 cm; Est. D.: 14 X 2.o5 cm. Orange surfacesand core (7.5 YR 7/6-6/6).
cm. Orange surface (near 7.5 YR7/6); brown core (7.5 Soft, powdery, velvety surfaces; Hard, grainy breaks.
YR 6/6-5/6). Soft, gritty, powdery surfaces; hard, MF Family:PowderWare (veryfine powder). ?H-ER.
grainy,bumpy breaks. Sand Familywith mica. ?H-ER.
58. Ladle: round handle with small portion of wall
51. Ladle: everted, flat-topped rim with grooved top (FIG. 14). Main Chamber (A-414; Int2-I3). MPD: 9.4
surface (FIG.13). Main Chamber (A-I99). MPD: 8.4 X cm; Handle: 1.85 X 2 cm. Light-orange surface (5 YR
3-55 cm; Wall Th.: 0.4 cm; Est. D.: 16 cm. Light 6/6); orange core (near 5 YR 6/8). Soft, gritty surfaces;
buff/brown surface and core (near 7.5 YR 7/4). Soft, hard, grainy breaks. MF Family: Powder Ware with
soapy surfaces;hard, rough breaks.MF Family:Powder red ferrous (coarsepowder). ?H-ER.
ware with silvermica (mediumpowder). ?H-ER.
59. Ladle: bs with round handle stump. Main
52. Ladle: trefoil rim with two grooves on top surface; Chamber (A-i61; MD-46). L-shaped groove on wall
round handle (2 non-joining frags.) (FIG. 13; PLATE69). beside handle. MPD: 3.I cm; Handle: 1.6 X 1.5 cm;
Main Chamber (A-347; Int2-II); Main Chamber (A- Wall Th.: 0.4 cm. Brown surface (7.5 YR 8/4 to 7/4);
348; MD-I). Wall Th.: 0.35 cm; Est. D.: 14 cm. brown/pink core (7.5 YR 6/4 to 6/6). Soft, powdery
Orange/brown surface (near 5 YR 5/6); dark-orange surfaces; medium-hard, grainy breaks. MF Family:
core (5 YR5/8). Soft, slightly chalky surfaces;medium- Powder Ware with silver mica (fine powder). ?H-ER.
soft, foliate breaks. MF Family: Powder ware (medium
powder). ?H-ER. 6o. Ladle: hollow, cylindrical handle (FIG. 14). Main
Deposit (A-49; MD-43). Traces of paint on ext. MPD:
53. Ladle: everted rim with grooved top surface (FIG. 3.1 X 3 cm; D. Handle: 2.2 cm. Light orange surface
13). Main Chamber (A-I28). Ridge at rim/wall (7.5 YR7/4); light-browncore (7.5 YR7/4). Soft, grainy
junction; paint stains on ext. MPD: 5.6 X 7.1 cm; Wall surfaces; hard, powdery breaks. MF Family: Powder
Th.: 0.85 cm; Est. D. Rim: 12 cm. Buff/tan surface (7.5 Ware (medium-coarsepowder). ?H-ER.
YR 7/4); light-brown core (7.5 YR 7/4-7/6). Soft,
powdery, gritty surfaces; hard breaks. MF Family: 6x. Ladle: hollow, flattened handle with end (FIG.14).
Powderware with red ferrous(coarsepowder). ?H-ER. Main Deposit (A-276; MD-18). MPD: 2.75 X 7.2 cm.
Pink/orange surfaces (near 5 YR 6/6); orange core (5
54. Ladle: trefoil rim and slightly flattened handle (FIG. YR 5/1 to 5/2). Hard, gritty surfaces; hard, grainy
14). Main Chamber (A-412, Int2-I2). MPD: 7.2 cm; breaks. Phyllite Family.?H-ER.
Common
TableandStorageWares
62. Large basin: flat base. Main Chamber (A-242; MPD: 13.5 X Io cm; Floor Th.: 1.4 cm; Est. D.: 20
Int2-3). Well-preserved burnishing on int. and ext. cm. Orange/brown surface and core (near 2.5 YR
57
55
54
56
58
60
61
Fig. 14. Ladle handles 54-6x. Scale i:3.
5/8). Very hard, smooth, bumpy surfaces; very hard, 64. Basin: flat-topped rim thickened to ext.;
rough breaks. Calcareous Family with phyllite (Red- vertical wall; small handle scar below rim (FIG. 15;
brown Calcite Ware).EM-MM I. PLATE67). Entrance Chamber (A-335; Inti-5).
Iridescent black paint on rim and int. with
63. Basin/Krater: flat base with outer moulding (3 inverted V-pattern under rim on ext. MPD: 2.85
non-joining frags.). Main Chamber (A-4oo, 401, 403). cm; Wall Th.: 0.4 cm; Est. D.: 17 cm. Buff/brown
MPD: 5 cm X 2.4 cm; Est. D.: 13 cm. Buff/orange surface (near 7.5 YR 6/6); buff/brown core (7.5 YR
surface and core
(7.5 YR 7/4). Soft, powdery, chalky 6/6). Medium-hard, slightly gritty surfaces; hard,
surfaces; medium-soft, grainy, bumpy breaks. Fine gritty breaks. Sand Family with mica and ferrous.
Buff Family with soft red. A-C. A-H.
64
65
69
Fig. 15. Common Table and Storage 64-69. Scale
i:3.
65. Pyxis: rim (FIG. 15; PLATE68). Main Chamber (A-200; and ext. MPD: 7.75 X 6.5 cm; Wall Th.: 0.5 cm; Est. D.:
MD-Io). MPD: 4 cm; Wall Th.: 0.35 cm; Est. D.: 6 cm. 13 cm. Buff surface (near Io YR6/6); buff/light-orange
Buff/pink to grey surface(near 7.5 YR6/3); buff/purple core (7.5 YR 6/6). Soft, powdery surfaces;hard, grainy
core (7.5 YR 6/3). Soft, chalky surfaces; hard, grainy breaks.MF YellowFamilywith silvermica. C-H.
breaks.MF Buff Familywith silvermica. A-H. For the shape, see Callaghan 1981: 48, no. 34, fig. 6.
66. Krater: rectangulareverted rim with straight neck. 7o. Unguentarium: flat base with straight, steeply
Main Chamber (A-286). Black paint on ext. MPD: 5.8 rising wall. Main Chamber (A-42; MD-I3). MPD: 3.6
X 5.1 cm; Est. D. Neck: 20 cm. Pink/buff surface (near cm; Wall Th.: 0.9 cm; Est. D.: 1.8 cm. Pink/orange/
7.5 YR7/4); orange/tan misfired core (2.5 YR6/8 and brown surface and core (7.5 YR 7/6 and 6/6). Soft,
7.5 YR 7/4). Hard, powdery surfaces; hard, grainy powdery, smooth surfaces; hard, grainy breaks. MF
breaks.MF Orange Familywith soft red. C. Orange Familywith fine sand. H-ER.
Similar to Cretan Household Krater,type I, but not
rim dipped; see Callaghan 1978:I3, no. 27, fig. 8. Local colour-coated jug: short everted rim with
7I.
straightwall. Main Chamber(A-389;MD-44). Red paint
67. CV: large strap handle. Main Chamber (A-236). on ext. and upper int. wall. MPD: 2.55 X 2.9 cm; Wall
Smoothed on int. and ext. MPD: 12 X 3.5 X 1.5 cm. Th.: 0.25 cm; Est. D.: 9 cm. Yellow/brown surface and
Pink/brown surface and core (5 YR 7/3-7/4). Very core (7.5 YR7/4 to 5 YR7/3). Soft, powdery surfaces;
hard, smooth surfaces; very hard, grainy, bumpy hard, grainybreaks.MF Buff Familywith soft red. ER.
breaks.Phyllite Familywith feldspar.C-H. For the shape, see Sackett 1992: 195, dep. B2, no. 65,
pl. 139.
68. Krater: rectangular everted rim. Entrance
Chamber (A-I52; IntI-II). Red and black gloss on int. 72. CV: bs. Entrance Chamber (A-425). Ex-glazed on
and rim; ext. is ?ex-gloss. MPD: 4.55 X 3.2 cm; Wall int. and ext. MPD: 3.4 X 2.55 cm; Wall Th.: 0.4 cm.
Th.: 0.4 cm; Est. D.: 16 cm. Orange/tan surface (near Grey to red surface (2.5 YR 5/o to near Io R 4/6);
7.5 YR 7/6); orange core (5 YR 6/6 to 6/8). Medium- brick-red core (near Io R 4/6). Hard, bumpy surfaces;
hard, powdery, smooth surfaces; hard, grainy breaks. hard, grainy breaks. Sand Familywith quartz. B-T.
MF Orange Familywith mica. C/H-ER.
Similar in shape to Cretan Household Krater, type 73. Small basin: heavy rim thickened to ext. and
I, but has int. gloss and smaller diameter; see convex wall (2 joined rim frags. and I bs.) Main
Callaghan 1978:I3, no. 28, fig. 8. Chamber (A-25I). Wall Th.: 0.7 cm; Est. D.: 20 cm.
Pink/brown surface and core (5 YR6/6). Hard, smooth
69. Tulip jug: flat topped, everted rim, bulbous body surfaces; hard, bumpy breaks. Silt stone Family with
(FIG.I5). Main Chamber (A-54;Int2-5). Black paint int. coarse sand. ?B-Mod.
CookingWares
74. Tripod: oval foot. Main Chamber (A-292; MD- medium-hard, rough breaks. MMF with phyllite.
37). ?Black paint on ext. MPD: 6.5 X 4.35 X 3 cm. MM/LM I.
Bright-orange surface (near 2.5 YR 6/6);
grey/brown to pink/brown core (io R 5/6 to near 75. Cooking pot: rounded, everted rim frag. Outside
o10 YR 5/2). Medium-hard, bumpy surfaces; cave (A-299). MPD: 2.3 X 2.15 cm. Red/brown
Fig. 16. Cooking 78. Scale I:3.
surface (near 10oR 5/4); grey/brown core (7.5 YR 5/2). 78. Cooking pot: wide everted rim with knob-like lip
Hard, gritty surfaces and breaks. MMF with quartz- and rounded wall (FIG. I6). Main Chamber (A-312;
phyllite. MM/LM I. MD-8). Rim and ext. wall burnt. Light ribbing on
body. MPD: 2.75 cm; Wall Th.: 0.3 cm; Est. D.: 22 cm.
76. Cooking pot: thick, flat-topped everted rim with Buff/brown surface (near 7.5 YR6/4); buff/brown core
straight wall. Main Chamber (A-247; Int2-25). Fine, (7.5 YR 5/4). Hard, gritty surfaces and breaks. MMF
horizontal combing on ext. wall; shallow groove at with phyllite. ER (Ist c. AD). Possibly imported
wall/rim junction. ?Self-slippedint. and ext. MPD 11.2 For general form, see ribbed cooking ware from
X 3.75 cm; Wall Th.: 0.5 cm; Est. D.: 18 cm. Pink/red Knossos;J. W. Hayes, 'The Villa Dionysos excavations,
surface (2.5 YR6/6 to 5/6); pink/red/brown core (2.5 Knossos: the pottery', BSA 78 (1983), 122-3, no. 63, fig.
YR 5/6). Medium-hard, smooth surfaces; medium- 5.
hard, grainy breaks.Phyllite Family.C-H.
79. Cooking Pot: bs with stump of oval, vertical
77. Brazier:lug with swallow-tailend. Main Chamber handle. Main Chamber (A-244).Burned on ext. MPD:
(A-329; MD-27). ?Blackpaint on ext. MPD: 4.95 X 2.9 10.4 X 8.1 cm; Wall Th.: i.i-i.5 cm; Est. D. body: 42
X 1.3 cm. Buff surface (near 7.5 YR 8/4); red/brown cm; Handle: 4.5 X 2.5 cm. Pink/red, red/brown
core (near 7.5 YR 5/4). Hard, gritty surfaces; hard, surface; dark-grey core (near Io YR 4/I). Very hard,
bumpy breaks. Sand Family with sponge spicules. bumpy surfaces; very hard, rough breaks. Phyllite
H-ER (into Ist c. AD). Family.LR/B-?T.
Commercial
Amphorae
8o. Amphora: toe. Main Chamber (A-434; MD-22). surfaces;hard, grainy breaks. Sand Family with mica.
MPD: 6.6 X 6.3 cm; D. Toe: 3.2 cm. Orange/buff C-H. ?Imported.
surfaces (near 7.5 YR 7/6); bright-orange to
brown/grey core (7.5 YR6/6 to io YR6/3). Soft, gritty 82. ?Chian amphora: shoulder with oval handle
surfaces;medium-soft, rough breaks. Sand Family.C. scar. Main Chamber (A-318; MD-3I). Black paint
on int. and ext. MPD: Io X 9.25 cm; Wall Th.: 1.2
8x. Amphora: large double-rolled handle with small cm; Handle: 2.8 X 3.3 cm. Buff/brown surface
frag. of wall (PLATE67). Main Chamber (A-482; MD- (near 7.5 YR 8/4); light- brown core (near 7.5 YR
21). Mat black paint on all surfaces.MPD: 16.25 X 3.5 7/6). Hard, powdery surfaces; hard, fairly smooth
X 1.8 cm; Wall Th.: 0.4 cm. Orange/brown surface breaks. Fine Pink Family with soft red. LC/EH
and core (near 7.5 YR 7/6). Very soft, powdery (4th-3rd c. BC).
Pithoi
83. Pithos: neck and shoulder frag. with applied 84. LCV: bs. Main Chamber (A-283; Int2-21).
decorationon ext. (bandwith finger impressions)(PLATE Pink/buff slip on ext. beneath chequer pattern in dark
67). Main Chamber (A-313;MD-36). Red paint on ext. red and orange. MPD: 10.7 X 6.8 cm; Wall Th.: 0.7
and ?int. MPD: 8 X 5.35 cm; Est. D. Neck: 45 cm. cm; Est. D.: 19 cm. Pink/buff surface (5 YR7/6 to 7.5
Orange/tan surface (io YR 7/4 to 7/6); grey/brown YR 7/6); pink (5 YR 7/4 to 7/6). Hard, smooth
core (io YR 6/2). Medium-hard, rough surfaces; surfaces; very hard, bumpy breaks. Silt stone Family
medium-hard,bumpybreaks.PhylliteFamily.C-R. with soft red: Pseudo-chip Ware. ?T.
Beehives
85. ?Lantern/Beehive: lid with thickened rim (FIG.17). MPD: 8.9 X 7.65 cm; Wall Th.: 1.8 cm; Est. D. Rim:
Main Chamber (A-27o; MD-4). 2 scratches on int. 3.5 cm. Brown/yellow surface (Io YR6/4); red/brown
Fig. 17. Beehives 85. Scale 1:3.
core (5 YR 5/3). Soft, gritty surfaces; hard, bumpy surfaces; hard, grainy breaks. Sand Family with
breaks. Sand Family.?LR. feldspar.?LR.
86. Bs. Main Chamber (A-317). Very shallow 88. Bs (2 joined). Main Chamber (A-246, Int2-I; A-245,
horizontal scoring (thin scratches) on int. Red paint Int2-2). Deep, horizontal and oblique scoring on int.;
int. and ext. MPD: 6.2 X 4.8 cm; Wall Th.: 1.3 cm; ?wipemarkson ext. Wall Th.: 1.6 cm; Est. D.: 20 cm.
Est. D.: 22 cm. Pink/orange surface (near 5 YR 7/4); Tan/yellow to brownsurface(neario YR6/6); red/brown
pink/brown core (near 5 YR 6/4). Soft, powdery core (5 YR6/6). Hard, smooth surfaces; hard, smooth
surfaces; hard, grainy breaks. Sand Family with red breaks.Sand Familywith chert;same fabricas 89. ?LR.
ferrous.?LR.
89. Bs. Main Chamber (A-243, MD-4o0). Deep,
87. Bs (2 non-joined). Main Chamber (A-262, A-259). horizontalscoring on int. ?Wipemarkson ext. MPD: 7.4
Medium-deep, fine, horizontal scoring on int. MPD: X 8.25 cm; Wall Th.: 1.2-1.4 cm; Est. D.: 23 cm.
7.45 X 5.75 cm; Wall Th.: 0.9 cm; Est. D.: 16 cm. Orange/brown surface(near Io YR6/6); red/brown core
Tan/brown surface (7.5 YR 6/2 to 6/4); tan/pink to (5 YR 6/6). Hard, smooth surfaces;hard, fairly smooth
brown core (near 5 YR 6/3). Medium-soft, powdery breaks.Sand Familywith chert;same fabricas 88. ?LR.
Single-Nozzle
lamps
go. Grey ware, carinated bs with nodules on top and lumpy with groove down centre; attached to wall
surface. Main Chamber (A-5I3; MD-24). with lumps of clay. Handle: 1.o5 X 0.9 cm; Outer D.:
Smoothed/burnished on ext. MPD: 4.6 cm; Wall Th.: 3.i cm. Orange surface and core (near 7.5 YR 7/4).
0.3 cm. Black surface (near 2.5 YR4/o); grey/brown Soft, powdery surfaces; soft, grainy, melted-looking
core (near 7.5 YR 5/o). Very hard, smooth surfaces breaks.Fine Orange Familywith mica. H.
and breaks.MF Grey Familywith silver mica. A-C?
93. Bs. Main Chamber (A-392; MD-42). Disc-shaped
g9I. Long nozzle (FIG. 18; PLATE 70). Main Chamber applied decoration and two grooves on top surface.
(A-I58; Int2-19).Dark paint on int. and ext. MPD: 4.3 MPD: 3 cm X 2.25 cm; Wall Th.: 0.5 cm. Yellow/tan
cm. Orange surface (near 7.5 YR7/6); pink/buff core surface and core (near Io YR 7/3). Hard, powdery,
(5 YR 7/6). Soft, powdery surfaces; hard, grainy gritty surfaces; hard, bumpy, slightly grainy breaks.
breaks. Sand Familywith fine silver mica. H. Fine Buff Familywith soft red. H/ER.
92. Vertical ring handle (PLATE70). Main Chamber (A- 94. Half of body and nozzle (PLATE70). Main
25; MD-30). Black paint on int. and ext. Handmade Chamber (A-316; MD-12). Circular incised patterns
Fig. 18. Single-nozzle lamps 91. Scale 1:3.
within net pattern. Black paint on top and dribbled 0.3-0.45 cm. Brown/grey surface (5 YR 5/I to 5/2);
over side. MPD: 2.2 X 7.6 cm; Wall Th.: 0.4 cm. blue/grey core (near 7.5 YR 5/o). Very hard, smooth
Orange surface and core (near 7.5 YR 5/3). Very hard, surfaces; very hard, grainy breaks. MF Grey Family
slightly gritty surfaces; very hard, slightly grainy with mica and milky quartz. R.
breaks.Sand Familywith fine calcite. ER (Ist c. AD).
See K. Wardle, 'Two Notes from Knossos', BSA 67 96. Bs. Entrance Chamber (A-282).Black paint on int.
(1972), 276, no. 5 for an example from Knossos; and and ext. Groove with circular relief decoration on top
A. Delt. 17 (1961-62), Chr. pl. 358g for lamp from surface. MPD: 4.2 X 1.54 cm; Wall Th.: 0.4 cm.
Aptera. Buff/white surface and core (near 7.5 YR 8/2 to 7/4).
Soft, powdery surfaces; medium-soft, grainy breaks.
95. Grey ware bs. Main Chamber (A-257).Black paint MF Buff Family with gold mica and fine sand. R (late
on ext.; burned on int. MPD: 3.9 X 1.I5 cm; Wall Th: Ist-2nd c. AD).
lamps
Multiple-JNozzle
97. Nozzle, everted rim, and bulbous wall (FIG.19; dark-red paint on ext.; smearing on int. of nozzle.
PLATE 71). Main Chamber (A-I68; Int2-18). MPD: 7.05 MPD: 7.7 X 3.5 cm. Bright-orangesurface and core (5
cm; Wall Th.: 0.45 cm; Est. D.: 9 cm. Buff surface (7.5 YR 7/6-7/8). Soft, powdery surfaces; hard, grainy
YR 7/6); orange/brown core (7.5 YR 6/6). Soft, core. MF Family: Powder Ware (fine powder).
powdery surfaces; hard, bumpy breaks. MF Family: ?H-ER.
PowderWare (fine powder). ?H-ER.
99. Nozzle and small frag. of rim. Main Chamber (A-
98. Multiple-nozzle lamp: everted, rounded rim and 421; BT-2). MPD: 2.75 cm; Wall Th.: 0.45 cm; Est. D.:
nozzle (PLATE 71). Main Chamber (A-26). Traces of 7 cm. Buff/orange surface YR 7/6); light-brown
(7.5
97
100
108 106
103
104 105 107

Fig. 19. Multiple-nozzle lamps 97-10zo8.Scale i:3.
core (7.5 YR 6/6). Soft, gritty surfaces; medium-soft, Orange/buff surface (near 7.5 YR 6/6); orange/brown
gritty breaks. MF Family: Powder ware (medium (7.5 YR 6/6). Hard, gritty surfaces;hard, grainy breaks.
powder). ?H-ER. MF Family: Powder Ware with silver mica (medium
powder). ?H-ER.
ioo. Nozzle with small portion of bowl. Main
Chamber (A-75;MD-I5). Burnt at tip. MPD: 3.75 cm. 1o5. Pedestal base and stem (FIG. 19). Main Chamber
Buff/orange surface (7.5 YR 6/6); orange core (5 YR (A-I; Int2-23). MPD: 3.2 cm; D. stem: 0.85 cm.
6/6). Soft, slightly gritty surfaces; hard, gritty breaks. Orange/buff surface (near 5 YR7/6); orange/buff core
MF Family:PowderWare (medium powder). ?H-ER. (7.5 YR 7/6 to 6/6). Soft, smooth surfaces; hard,
smooth breaks. MF Family: Powder Ware (medium
IoI. Nozzle, wall (FIG. 19). Inner Chamber II (A-430). powder). ?H-ER.
MPD: 5.9 X 4 cm. Pink/orange surfaces and core
(near 5 YR 7/6). Soft, velvety, powdery surfaces; io6. Pedestal base and stem (FIG. 19; PLATE71). Main
medium-hard, grainy breaks. MF Family: Powder Chamber (A-394; Int2-I4). Dark slip on ext. MPD: 4.2
Ware (fine powder). ?H-ER. cm; Est. D. base: 5.5 cm. Buff/yellow surface(near Io YR
8/2); orange/brown core (5 YR6/6). Soft, gritty surface;
1o2. 2 joining rim fragments. Main Chamber (A-29; hard, gritty,bumpybreaks.Sand Family.?H-ER.
MD-I4). MPD: 4.8 cm; Wall Th: 0.5 cm. Buff surface
(7.5 YR 6/6); buff/red core (5 YR 6/6). Soft, chalky 107. Multiple-nozzle lamp: pedestal stem (FIG. 19).
surfaces;hard, gritty breaks. MF Family:Powder Ware Inner Chamber I (A-424;SD-3). MPD: 6.2 cm; D. Stem:
(coarsepowder). ?H-ER. 3 cm. Buff/light-brownsurfaces(near 7.5 YR7/6); pink-
buff core (near 5 YR 7/6). Soft, powdery surfaces;
103. Pedestal stem and small frag. of bowl floor (FIG. medium-hard, straight, smooth breaks. MF Family:
19). Main Chamber (A-4I; Int2-15). Red/brown gloss Powderware with mica (medium-finepowder).?H-ER.
on ext. and resting surface. MPD: 5.2 cm; D. Pedestal:
3.1 cm. Orange surface and core (5 YR 6/6). Soft, io8. Multiple-nozzle lamp: pedestal stem, frag. of floor
smooth surfaces; hard, smooth breaks. MF Family: (FIG.19; PLATE 71). Main Chamber (A-458; MD-33).
PowderWare (medium powder). ?H-ER. Black paint on ext. MPD: 5.3 cm; D. Stem: 2.6 cm.
Light-orange/buff surfaces and core (7.5 YR6/6). Soft,
1o4. Pedestal stem (FIG. 19). Main Chamber (A-413; powdery surfaces; soft, grainy breaks. MF Family:
Int2-20). MPD: 5.7 cm; Handle: 3.65 X 2.9 cm. Powderware (fine powder). ?H-ER.
Terracotta
Figurines
0og. Frag. of back section (2 joining frags.) (PLATE72). YR 6/6 and 5 YR 6/6). Soft, smooth, near soapy
Main Chamber (A-334; MD-38). Finger marks on surfaces; hard, bumpy, melted-looking breaks. MMF
interior.Convex int. Finishededge of air hole at bottom with mica; same fabric as Iog. ?H/ER.
of pres. frag. Mould-made. MPD: 6.9 X 3.75 cm.
Pink/red surface and core (2.5 YR 6/6 and 5 YR 6/6). III. Lower half of seated female (PLATE72). Main
Soft, smooth, near soapy surfaces;hard, bumpy melted- Chamber (A-323; MD-25). Cylindrical form; rounded
looking breaks. MMF with mica; same fabric as I o. feet protruding over small plinth at bottom. Thin
?H/ER. groove marking division of lap and legs. Finished
surface at bottom. Smoothed and burnt ext. MPD: 5.6
torso with raised arms or heavy cm; Est. Th.: 1.25 cm. Orange/brown surface (5 YR
iIo. ?Upper
shoulders (PLATE 72). Main Chamber (A-27I). Finished 6/6); grey to buff core (near 5 YR 6/6 to IO YR 5/1 and
edge of air hole on back. Smoothed on int. and ext. near 7.5 YR 7/4). Soft, smooth surfaces;medium-soft,
MPD: 4.6 X 6.3 cm. Pink/red surface and core (2.5 foliate breaks. Sand Familywith calcite. ?H/ER.
GLASS
xx2. Marbled glass (amber,opaque white, light blue): frags,of which one may not belong):?horizontalgarland
four frags. Main Chamber. MPD: 5.5 X 2.3 cm; Th.: with two types of leaves in opaque yellow,opaque white
o.4 cm. ER (c. AD I-c. 50). and opaque blue. MPD: 3 X 3.1 cm; Est. Th. 1-1.2 mm.
Painted body frag with leaves of two sorts in opaque
x13. Painted clear glass bowl/cup (FIG.20; PLATES
73-4). white. MPD: 2.3 X 1.8 cm. Five other frags with red and
Main Chamber.Lowerbody near roundedbottom (four light blue paint. Possibly typical Isings form 12. Two
other fragsof evertedcut-offrim and body of bowl/cup.
They are not obviouslypainted, but if they belong to the
same vessel they would make it an unusual (but not
impossible)shape for a painted vessel;(cf. D. B. Harden,
Glass of the Caesars(The Corning Museum of Glass,
Corning; The British Museum, London; the Romisch-
113
Germanisches Museum, Cologne, 1987), no. 148 for a White Paint
114
partialparallel.Two iridescentfrags;unclear if markings Yellow
are iridescence,splash or paint. One frag with glorious
iridescence (and no paint), which may belong to this Blue
vessel. Eight further frags ?unpainted,which may or
FIG.20. Glass I13-'14. Scale: I : 2.
may not belong to this vessel. Either North Italian or
fromthe EasternMediterranean.ER (c.AD 25-c. 75).
For parallelssee Ruitti(n. 23). hard to parallel in R glass. Perhaps post-Roman.
IX4. Thick clear glass handle (FIG.20; PLATES73-4). 115. ?Cup: rim, thickened to ext. Dark green/brown.
Main Chamber. MPD: 2.6 X 1.6 cm. The form is Main Chamber.MPD: 3.4 X 2.5 cm. Modern.
COIN
Ix6. Coin: bronze. Main Chamber. Very worn.

Turkishwriting on both sides. T.
BONES AND TEETH
IX7. Proximalfragment of femur shaft, with butchery 120. Lower M3 of a sheep/goat. Main Chamber.
marks.Main Chamber.Bos? MPL = 63 mm. MPL = 37 am.
ix8. Tibia of a pig. Main Chamber.MPL = 94-.7mm.

12I. Femur of a small animal (possibly hare?). Main
Chamber.MPL = 50 mm.
I9g. Lower M3 of a sheep/goat. Main Chamber.
MPL = 38.5 mm.
STONE
122. Obsidian blade, grey-green. Entrance Chamber. 125. Grey chert. Outside cave. 19 X 14 X 5 mm; no
12 X 7 X 2 mm; no cortex. Bladelet fragmentmissing cortex. Flake with bulb, undulations; smooth butt;
distalend, with bulb,very faint undulations;facetedbutt; dorsal surface shows two main flake scars; no
dorsalsurfaceshowsthreeparallelflakescars;no retouch. retouch.
123. Black chert. Outside cave. 18 X I6 X 5 mm; no 126. Black chert. Outside cave. 14 X o10X 3 mm; no
cortex. Flake with bulb, very faint undulations; cortex. Flake with bulb; smooth butt; dorsal surface
smooth butt; dorsal surface shows at least three flake shows two flake scars;no retouch.
scars, plus a central natural surface area; no retouch.
127. Four limestone fragments. Main Chamber. 16 X
I24. Black chert. Outside cave. 20 X 16 X 6 mm; no 14 X 6 mm; 27 X 21 X 4 mm; 26 X 23 X 7 mm; 37 X
cortex. Flake with bulb, bulbar scar, undulations; 15 X 7 mm. Two show rim edges; curvature of frags.
smooth butt; dorsal surface shows two flake scars plus suggests a bowl or similar,but they might simply be a
a rough area; no retouch. natural formation.
FINDS NOT MADE BY SPHAKIA SURVEY
SeenbytheSphakiaSurvey
I. Chert blade (found by Faure in 1965, in Main Chamber, near the large stalactite). Black chert, 46 X
19 X 5 mm; no cortex. Retouched blade: traces of bulb and undulations still visible; one presumed
smooth butt; ventral surface retouched all the way around the edges by semi-invasive to invasive
retouch, non-parallel, up to 8 mm long, more usually less than 5 mm; unretouched surface on ventral
surface approximately 26 x 12 mm; dorsal surface almost entirely retouched by more or less parallel
invasive retouch; unretouched surface is approximatelyIo x 5 mm; overall form fairly symmetricaloval,
pointed at both ends; ventral surface almost flat, dorsal surface more rounded. Faure 1967: 137
described the material wrongly as obsidian, which misled Treuil (BCH 94 (1970), 16) into suggesting a
Neolithic date for the blade.
2. One bowl, largely complete, flat base with string-marks,rounded body, narrow drooping rim, long
handle broken off (foundby Tsiphetakis,1968). H. Probablya brazier.
3. Twelve handles and stumps (foundby Tsiphetakis,1968). These probably belong to ladles. H.
4. One lamp nozzle (of type found by Survey)(found by Tsiphetakis,1968). H.
5. One hollow stem (foundby Tsiphetakis,1968). This is either a cylindricalladle handle or the pedestal
of a multiple-nozzlelamp. H.
6. One splayed base, ? for multiple nozzle lamp with four nozzles (cf. 97-o108) (found by Tsiphetakis,
1968). H.
7. One unguentarium,lower half, plain ware (cf. 70) (found by Tsiphetakis,1968). H.
8. One unguentarium,toe (foundby Tsiphetakis,1968). H.
9. One tulip cup base, BG (cf. i4) (foundby Tsiphetakis,1968). H.
Io. One slip painted glazed frag (cf. 39-41I) (foundby Tsiphetakis,1968).T (nineteenth century AD).
II. One glazed jug neck and handle, bizarre shape (found by Tsiphetakis,1968). T (nineteenth century
AD).
Not seenby the SphakiaSurvey

12. 'Dagger blade', 11 cm long (found in 1963). S. Alexiou,
Kr.Chron.15 (1963), 412. According to Faure,
it was first thought to be bronze, but is malachite, and was on display in a case of LM III bronzes in
Khania Museum (1967:137).Tyree 1974:49 was unable to find this in the Khania Museum.
13. 'LM III bronzes' allegedly found in cave in 1963 and taken to Khania Museum (Tyree 1974: 49,
citing S. Alexiou, Kr.Chron.15 (1963),412). As Alexiou does not refer to such things, this seems to be a
mistake on the part of Tyree, and a doublet of item 12.
14. 'Stirrupjar nozzle' (found in Main Chamber and so described by Faure 1967: 137).Now missing in
Museum. If correctly described, this would be LM III, but it might also be part of a multiple nozzle
lamp (like 97-io8).
15. 'A fragment of a pot of whitish clay, bumpy, 5-4 X 3 XI cm, with exterior surface covered with
comb marks, 2-3 mm apart' (found in Main Chamber and so described by Faure 1967: 137).The date
and identificationof this pot is wholly uncertain.
16. 'Headless bust of terracotta enthroned goddess, 8 cm tall, traces of black paint' (found in Main
Chamber and so describedby Faure 1967:137;cf. 136 fig. 13). Cf. o09g-I i i.
17. 'Goblet foot of grey clay, exterior painted in a lightly shining black, decorated with two concentric
lines' (found in Main Chamber and so describedby Faure 1967:137).
18. 'Lamp nozzles of grey clay,with black and red paint, classical date' (found in Main Chamber and so
describedby Faure 1967:I37).
19. 'Footed lamp 9 cm tall, 12 cm wide' (found in Main Chamber and so described by Faure 1967: 137;
cf. I36 fig.13).Cf. 97-108.
20. 'Combed sherds, in manner of Late Roman, from beehives or amphoras' (found in Main Chamber
and so described by Faure 1967:137).Presumablybeehive fragments,like 86-9.
21. 'Bronze pellet' (found in Main Chamber and so described by Faure 1967: 137).
22. 'Bulls' horns, painted in dark purplish-blue,6-12 cm long, some straight, others curved in shape of
lyre' (found in Main Chamber and so described by Faure 1967: 137).A misinterpretationof the brazier
handles found by the Survey (43-61).
23. Animal phalluses (goat or ram)' (found in Main Chamber and so described by Faure 1967: 137).
Presumablyfurtherbrazier handles.
AGIASMATSI: A GREEK CAVE SANCTUARY IN SPHAKIA, SW CRETE
471
24. 'Votive plaque representingPan, with legs crossed' (looted in 1967 and surfaced in Sitia area; now
disappearedagain.). Faure 1969: 200.
25. 'Two enthroned goddess statuettes in clay' (looted in 1967 and surfaced in Sitia area; now
disappearedagain.). Faure 1969: 200. Cf. og-i x.
26. 'Roman lamps, one with a representation of warriors' (looted in 1967 and surfaced in Sitia area;
now disappearedagain.). Faure 1969: 200.
27. 'Unpainted footed clay lamp' (looted in 1967 and surfaced in Sitia area; now disappeared again.).
Faure 1969: 200.
Dept.of Classics,ModernLanguages
andLinguistics
ConcordiaUniversity JANE FRANCIS
Hall, Oxford
LadyMargaret SIMON PRICE
Texas
BaylorUniversity, JENNIFER MOODY
MagdalenCollege,Oxford LUCIA NIXON
PLATE 67
CRETE
SW
83.
8i,
SPHAKIA,
64,
IN
26,
AL.
i6,
ET
ixi,
6,
SANCTUARY
3,
FRANCIS
CAVE
sherds:
GREEK
A Decorated
AGIASMATI:
PLATE 68
FRANCIS ET AL.
AGIASMATI:A GREEK CAVE SANCTUARY IN SPHAKIA, SW CRETE
Decorated Table wares: 7, 28, 35, 36, 65.
io,0
PLATE 69
CRETE
SW
SPHAKIA,
IN
A-77.
AL.
52,
ET
49,
SANCTUARY
44,
FRANCIS
CAVE
Ladles:
GREEK
A
AGIASMATI:
PLATE70
CRETI
SW
SPHAKIA,
94.
IN
g92,
AL. g9,
ET
lamps:
SANCTUARY
FRANCIS
CAVE
Single-nozzle
GREEK
A
AGIASMATI:
71
PLFATE
CRETE
SW
io8.
SPHAKIA,
IN1o6,
AL. 98,
ET 97,
lamps:
SANCTUARY
FRANCIS
CAVE
Multiple-nozzle
GREEK
A
AGIASMATI:
PLATE 72
FRANCIS ET AL.
AGIASMATI:A GREEK CAVE SANCTUARY IN SPHAKIA, SW CRETE
Terracotta figurines: 0og, Io, xIxI.
PLATE 73
CRETE
SWright.
far
on
xx4
SPHAKIA,
INplus
AiL. x13,
ET from
SANCTUARY
offrags
FRANCIS
CAVE
assemblage
GREEK
A glass:
Painted
AGIASMATI:
74
PIIATE
CRETE
SW
SPHAKIA,
IN Iqx4.
AL.
ET (detail),
xx3
SANCTUARY
glass:
FRANCIS
CAVE
Painted
GREEK
A
AGIASMATI:

A Greek Cave Sanctuary in Sphakia SW Crete

Încărcat de

Informații document

Titlu original

Drepturi de autor

Formate disponibile

Partajați acest document

Partajați sau inserați document

Opțiuni de partajare

Vi se pare util acest document?

Este necorespunzător acest conținut?

Drepturi de autor:

Formate disponibile

A Greek Cave Sanctuary in Sphakia SW Crete

Încărcat de

Drepturi de autor:

Formate disponibile

Agiasmatsi: A Greek Cave Sanctuary in Sphakia, SW Crete

You may need to log in to JSTOR to access the linked references.

FIG.I. Map of Sphakia with Crete inset (drawnby SRFP).

I. DISCOVERY AND DESCRIPTION OF THE CAVE

5 A. Phoukarakis, 'EOviij (Khania), 12 Apr., 1963, non slightly smaller: 3 X>6 m.

FIG.3. Agiasmatsicave from below. The carob tree marks

Inner Chamber III

Oat 2,I 6.. a. 101

FIG.4. Sketch plan of the Agiasmatsicave.

II. FINDS: ANALYSIS"13

Mixed Metamorphic Family 26 sherds

3. SUMMARYOF FINDS BY FIND SPOT

FIG.6. Chart of vessel types.

FIG.7. Reconstruction of ladle. Scale 1:2.

Only one handle is preserved(92), but it is comparable in manufactureand size to a handle

FIG.8. Reconstructionof multiple-nozzle lamp. Scale I:I.

III. CHRONOLOGY AND FUNCTION

3' L. V. Watrous, Kommosiii. The Late BronzeAge Pottery 5J

IV. AGIASMATSI IN CONTEXT

FIG.Io. View from Agiasmatsicave over Frangokastelloplain.

V. CATALOGUE OF THE FINDS

FIGS12-I9. Drawings of pottery: I2. Fine Table Scale I : 3.

Fig. 14. Ladle handles 54-6x. Scale i:3.

Fig. 16. Cooking 78. Scale I:3.

Fig. 17. Beehives 85. Scale 1:3.

Fig. 18. Single-nozzle lamps 91. Scale 1:3.

104 105 107

Ix6. Coin: bronze. Main Chamber. Very worn.

BONES AND TEETH

ix8. Tibia of a pig. Main Chamber.MPL = 94-.7mm.

FINDS NOT MADE BY SPHAKIA SURVEY

Not seenby the SphakiaSurvey

MagdalenCollege,Oxford LUCIA NIXON

S-ar putea să vă placă și