Analipsis [Vourvoura]

 

Διαβάστε αυτό το άρθρο στα Ελληνικά.

Almost three kilometres from Vourvoura of Arkadia, one encounters scattered ancient remains on top of two hills. To date, non of the findings provide a name for this area, so people refer to the region as 'Analipsis' after a small church southeast of hill 1.

Konstantinos Romaios from Vourvoura conducted archaeological excavations at Analipsis from the middle of the past century until the end of his life. Since then, little research has been conducted for the region. One of the reasons that the research cannot move forward is the exclusion of some findings because they were not properly cataloged in the Archaeological Museum's storage, and today they cannot be safely attributed to Analipsis. To this, we may add that the surviving remains are in bad condition and no effort has been made for conservation and for protection from weather conditions and the human factor. Therefore, gaining further knowledge other than that found in Romaios' reports, might be impossible. As Bakke notes, Analipsis does not merely need information signs, designated footpaths and fences. It requires a purposeful action from the authorities for protection, conservation, enhancement and development of the overall region, because it is due to the locals that rural areas are kept alive, and it is the local people that give value and meaning to the Past of a region.

Here is a synopsis of what is known for Analipsis.

Bakke Map 6

Neolithic findings

The oldest findings are some tools which Romaios dated in the Neolithic period. These tools alone cannot attest the existence of a Neolithic settlement on the hill. The last owners of these tools were people of the Bronze Age who were buried inside the tholos tomb of Analipsis. It is possible that the tools derived from a Neolithic settlement of the surrounded area (perhaps from Asea, from Partheni, or even from Analipsis).

Romaios, 1954, PAE.

As Bakke notes, it seems that the tools were not being used by the Mycenaean settlement of Analipsis in the same way and for the same purpose that their creators did. For their recent owners had no interest in retaining the sharpness of the tools for quite some time prior to their decision to place them into the tomb. The fact that tools of a lower technology were chosen to be displayed in a prominent position possibly indicates that their value was not to be found in their performance, but rather in their old (pre-historic) hypostasis. 

Bronze Age findings

Thirteen burial sites have been found on the two hills of Analipsis:

·       1 tholos tomb (hill 2)

·       8 tholoids (hill 2)

·       2 cist graves (hill 1?)

·       1 grave of unknown shape (hill 1)

·       1 grave of later years (hill 2-see below)

Tholos Tomb:

Bakke, Forty Rivers p. 219

Today, the top of the wall is visible from the top, whereas the inner of the tomb is inaccessible due to dense vegetation. The tomb is exposed to the weather conditions and is unprotected. Romaios concluded that it was looted in the antiquity and that the roof probably collapsed in the 4th century BC. The excavation showed two pits of which one was of adult size and the other of child size. From the grave goods, though, it is clear that the tholos was used as the burial place for men and women of a high social status, the bodies of whom must have been placed on the ground and not in pits. The tomb had been in use approximately between 1550 and 1450 BC. 

Tholoids:

Bakke, Forty Rivers p. 209

Unfortunately, the eight tholoids excavated by Romaios northwest of the large tomb are not visible today. There was small difference among their size and their diameter ranged between 2,48 and 3.,0 metres. The grave goods found in the small tombs showed little differences, indicating a rather equal status for the individuals or the families that the tholoids belonged to. It is estimated that they had been in use from 1400 to 1250BC.

Cist graves:

Kalogeropoulos 1998, Tafel 6b

The first cist grave is known as 'at Prytaneio' as is was found in lower levels but close to the later building that was perceived as Prytaneion. When excavated, the grave contained the remains of a child's skeleton. The ceramic content helped to date the burial between 1680 and 1600 BC.  

Kalogeropoulos 1998, Tafel 4c

The second cist grave is also referred to as 'at Alonia' and is solely known due to a sketch from the excavations. Its location is unknown to us. Although it appears as Mycenaean in the notes, some scholars hesitate to agree with this chronology. The grave contained a child's skull and two unspecified grave goods.

Grave of unknown shape:

Known also as 'at Alpheios', this grave is located at the northeast side of hill 1 and close to the remains of the medieval watchtower. Some of the grave goods were dated around 1680-1600 BC and others around 1380-1330 BC. Hence, it is believed that two different burials occurred there. This grave is additionally known as 'the grave of the fox' because the initial excavation had to stop due to the unbearable smell of the dead body of a fox.

             

Bakke, Map 6

Photo by Kostas Angelopoulos

Apart from the grave goods, Romaios found evidence of communal gathering such as fire and drinking cups. These were unearthed below the later building that was named Prytaneion/Bouleuterion. Please note that this building is close to the fountain of the hill.

            Geometric and Archaic period

Romaios found many geometric and archaic remains and concluded that human presence was constant at Analipsis during these periods. According to the archaeologist, one of the excavated fragments had inscription with laconic influence. Throughout history, the area had been under the possession of Arkadia and Laconia and it is important to remember that the ancient sources attest conflicts between Sparta and Tegea for the aforementioned period.

              Classical and Hellenistic period

One interesting finding of this time is the burial of a hoplite just outside the entrance of the tholos tomb, at around 500 BC. A large stone, initially part of the entrance of the Mycenaean tomb was now used to cover his grave.

Romaios in his reports is certain for the existence of a ceramic centre constantly in use from 450 until the mid 2nd century BC. The production seems to have stopped abruptly and not to have slowly declined until its final closure.

Karouzou 1985, AE

Bakke, Forty Rivers p.223

Some buildings southwest of hill 1 seem to have been destroyed in the mid 2nd c. BC. These were named 'private houses' and at the time of their destruction their tiles were of the laconic type. Other fragments suggested domestic religious activity. Two of the vases found in that location bear mythological images. A pelike depicts Thetis on a hippocampus and a prochous depicts the birth of Helen through Leda' egg. The remaining walls from the private houses were in such bad condition that Romaios buried them again after finishing his research.

 

Bakke Map 6

Romaios noticed two layers of destruction at some of the buildings around 'Prytaneion'. He placed the first layer into the 4th century and the second into the 2nd century BC. Some parts of the wall  unearthed during the excavations were also dated in the second century BC. An interesting finding regarding the wall is a side gate, commonly appeared already in the Mycenaean period. 

Equally important is the fact that, although 'Prytaneion' (or else 'Bouleuterion') was dated in the Classical period, its apsidal shape resembles older times. Its front part had four columns which were placed in a way that followed the natural steepness of the ground, so the upper column was approximately 40cm shorter than the lowest. The column bases were made by the local schist and the middle part was wooden.

Regarding the later use of some of the buildings of Analipsis, some of the tholoids which dated back to the Bronze Age, contained merely finding of later periods up to the Hellenistic period. It seems that two of the miniature tholoi were looted in antiquity, and later on they were used as burial sites.

It is also noteworthy that the building material of Analipsis is the local schist and not marble. It is known that Tegea was controlling the marble quarry not far from the site. This could enhance the argument that Analipsis was inhabited by perioikoi under a form of Spartan political influence.

Finally, it should be mentioned that Romaios was of the opinion that the 4th century destruction layer was connected to the destruction of Karyes in 356 BC by Archidamos (Xen. Hell. 7.1.28), and the 2nd BC destruction layer to the destruction of Iasos in 147 BC by Menaklidas (Paus.7.13). An important sanctuary of Karyes was that of Artemis Karyatis. In 1950 Romaios believed that this should have been located not far from Panagia at Arachova. Analipsis could have been one of the synoecisms of Karyes.

Bibliography:

Bakke, J. (2008). Forty Rivers: Landscape and Memory in the District of Ancient Tegea.

Kalogeropoulos, K. (1998) Die frühmykenischen Grabfunde von Analipsis (Südöstliches Arkadien). Mit einem Beitrag zu den Palatialen Amphoren des griechischen Festlandes.

Karouzou, S. (1985) Η Ελένη της Σπάρτης. Η μεγάλη πρόχους απο την Ανάληψη της Κυνουρίας, AE, 33-44.

Romaios, K. (1954) Ἀνασκαφική ἔρευνα κατα την Ἀνάληψιν, Praktika, 270-286.

Romaios, K. (1956) Ἀνασκαφική ἔρευνα κατα την Ἀνάληψιν της Κυνουρίας, Praktika, 185-186.

Romaios, K. (1957) Ἀνασκαφική ἔρευνα κατα την Ἀνάληψιν της Κυνουρίας, Praktika, 110-111.

Romaios, K. (1958) Ἀνασκαφαί ἐν Παλλάντιῳ και Ἰασῴ, Praktika, 165-166.

Romaios, K. (1961) Ἀνασκαφική ἔρευνα κατα την Ἀνάληψιν Μεθορίων της Κυνουρίας καί Λακωνίας, Praktika, 167-8.