Excavations at Sissi

Preliminary Report on the 2007- 2008 Campaigns

Jan Driessen (dir.)

Publisher : Presses universitaires de Louvain

Year of publication : 2009

Published on OpenEdition Books : 21 February 2013

Serie : AEGIS

Electronic ISBN : 9782875581709

http://books.openedition.org

Electronic reference:

DRIESSEN, Jan (ed.). Excavations at Sissi: Preliminary Report on the 2007- 2008 Campaigns. New edition [online]. Louvain-la-Neuve: Presses universitaires de Louvain, 2009 (generated 09 November 2013). Available on the Internet: <http://books.openedition.org/pucl/439>. ISBN: 9782875581709.

Printed version:

ISBN : 9782874631641

Number of pages : 194

© Presses universitaires de Louvain, 2009

Terms of use:
http://www.openedition.org/6540

During 2oo7 and 2oo8, the Belgian School at Athens undertook its first ever excavation on Crete, at the Minoan site of Sissi on the north coast of the island. Located at a few kilometres from the palatial site of Malia, the Sissi settlement presents aique test caSe to examine the relationship between a palace site and its hinterland during the Bronze Age (2600-1250BC). This volume gives some preliminary results of the two first excavation campaigns as well as an introduction on earlier explorations at Sissi, a report on the topography and some of the techniques used during the work. There is also a report on the Late Minoan pottery.

Table of contents

List of illustrations

1. Excavations on the Kephali at Sissi. Introduction

Jan Driessen

1. Location and interest of the Site

2. Earlier Explorations

3. The 2007-2008 Campaigns

4. Some Preliminary Results of the 2007-2008 Campaigns

2. Topographical Survey and GIS Applications

Piraye Hacıgüzeller

1. Topographical Survey

2. GIS Applications

3. The Excavation of the Cemetery (Zone 1)

Ilse Schoep

1. The House Tombs at Sissi

2. Description of Burial Compartments

3. Conclusions

4. Étude archéo-anthropologique de la nécropole (Zone 1)

Isabelle Crevecoeur and Aurore Schmitt

1. Introduction : l’anthropologie de terrain

2. Structure 1.6 (Campagne 2007)

3. Structures 1.7-1.8

4. La chambre funéraire 1.2

5. La structure 1.9-1.10

6. Structure 1.11-1.12

7. Caractérisation morphométrique

5. The Excavation of Zone 2

Frank Carpentier

1. Introduction

2. Building BA, Room 2.5 (‘Davaras Building’)

3. Building BA, Space 2.1

4. Building BA, Spaces 2.2, 2.3 and 2.4

5. Building BB

6. Building BC

7. Conclusion

6. Le bâtiment du sommet de la colline

Florence Gaignerot-Driessen and Quentin Letesson

6.1. Introduction

6.2. La fouille de la Zone 3

6.3. La fouille de la Zone 4

7. The Excavation of Zone 5

Maud Devolder

1. The south area of Zone 5

2. Zone 5: Building E

8. The Excavation of Zone 6

Simon Jusseret

1. Trench BK/BL 90/91

2. Trench extension BK/BL/BM 89/90/91

3. Conclusions

9. A Preliminary Report on the Late Minoan Pottery

Charlotte Langohr

1. The Neopalatial Pottery

2. The Final Palatial and Post-palatial Pottery

10. La base de données SarPedon

Hubert Fiasse

11. The use of a virtual tour during excavation

Thibaut Gomrée and Lina Manousogiannaki-Gomrée

1. The Method

2. Taking the pictures

3. The Procedure

4. The Interest of Virtual Tours

List of illustrations

1. Excavations on the Kephali at Sissi. Introduction 19

1Jan Driessen
Fig. 1.1. The Kephali tou Ag. Antoniou or Bouffo hill at Sissi (from North) (J. Driessen) 19

2Fig. 1.2. Crete: the location of Sissi, east of Malia (P. Hacigüzeller) 21

3Fig. 1.3. Topographical Map with ancient land and sea routes, converging at the Kephali in Sissi (P. Hacigüzeller) 22

4Fig. 1.4. Human Bones in the funerary area (Zone 1) of the Kephali showing before excavations ( J. Driessen) 22

5Fig. 1.5. Old Bridge and Kalderim road in the Selinari Gorge (after Oulié & Jean-Brunhes 1929: 248) 25

6Fig. 1.6. The Kephali at Sissi: GPR Survey in connection with the 2007 trenches; radargram at 70 cm (C. Hübner) 26

7Fig. 1.7. M. Tzannakis, L. Vancauwenberge, M. Kampfer and N. Kress pulling the georadar on the Kephali at Sissi (C. Hübner) 27

8Fig. 1.8. Inscribed Handle from Sissi survey (P. Zintzen) 27

9Fig. 1.9. Incised EM IIA sherd from Sissi survey (P. Zintzen) 28

10Fig. 1.10. Kylix fragment from Sissi survey (1:3; A. Rymenams) 28

11Fig. 1.11. Fragmentary loom weight with eroded seal impressions from Sissi survey (1:3, A. Rymenams) 28

12Fig. 1.12. Vertical Telescopic Cane and Aerial kite photography at Sissi (C. Gaston) 29

13Fig. 1.13. Vertical Telescopic Cane and Aerial kite photography at Sissi (C. Gaston) 29

14Fig. 1.14. Aerial View of the Kephali at Sissi in 2007 (North at left) (C. Gaston) 30

15Fig. 1.15. Aerial view of the Kephali at Sissi in 2008 (North at top) (C. Gaston)

1631 Fig. 1.16. Topographical plan with grid of the Kephali at Sissi, 2007-2008 campaigns (P. Hacigüzeller) 32

17Fig. 1.17. Cyclopean-looking wall at the Southwest of the Kephali at Sissi (from South) (C. Gaston) 33

18Fig. 1.18. The Bouffo-Sissi 2007 Team (C. Gaston). First row, from left to right: Vasilis Stefanakis (worker), Aliki Metallinou (University of Thessaloniki), Kristian Jacobson (worker), Charis Zachariou (conservation), Thomas Devos (UCL), Florence Gaignerot-Driessen (Paris IV), Simon Jusseret (UCL), Ilse Schoep (KUL), Pascale Zintzen (UCL), Barthélémy Decraene (UCL), Giorgios Metaxarakis (worker); Second row: Olivier Botman (ULg), Eleni Mlokie (University of Thessaloniki), Isabelle Crevecoeur (IRBScN), Piraye Hacigüzeller (UCL), Maud Devolder (UCL), Charlotte Langohr (UCL), Stéphanie Lefèbvre (UCL), Clélia Delmotte (UCL), Fabien Pécheur (UCL), Ann Aertssen (UFSIA), Jan Driessen (UCL); Third row: Frank Carpentier (KUL), Quentin Letesson (UCL), Nicolas Kress (UCL), Giorgios Kiriakakis (worker), Manolis Tzannakis (worker). 35

19Fig. 1.19. The Bouffo-Sissi 2008 Team (L. Manoussogiannaki). First row, from left to right: Saimi Besik (worker), Leen Cannaerts (KUL), Claire Farnoux, Kristian Jacobson (worker), Florence Gaignerot-Driessen (Paris IV), Fabien Pécheur (UCL), Ilse Schoep (KUL), Piraye Hacigüzeller (UCL), Manolis Tzannakis (worker), Thomas Devos (UCL/KUL); second row: Lina Manoussogiannaki, Nikolin Gkika (worker), Barthélemy Decraene (UCL), Sylviane Déderix (UCL), Stéphanie Lefèbvre (UCL), Nicolas Kress (UCL), Clélia Delmotte (UCL), Anne Gilon (UCL), Sandrine Henne (UCL), Charlotte Langohr (UCL), Kim Vanliefferinge (UGent), Valérie Demarie (KUL), Jan Driessen (UCL), Michalis Tzannakis (worker), Saimi Cami (worker), Dimitris Vlachakis (worker), Nezha ‘Panayiotis’ Krenar (worker); third row: Emmnanuel Mandelenis (worker), Giorgios Metaxarakis (worker), Florence Liard (UCL), Randal Vanhoof (UCL), Aurore Schmitt (UMarseilles), Alex MacGillivray (UMontréal), Maud Devolder (UCL), Simon Jusseret (UCL), Frank Carpentier (KUL), Quentin Letesson (UCL). 35

2. Topographical Survey and GIS Applications 37

20Piraye Hacıgüzeller
Fig. 2.1. Slope Map of the Kephali at Sissi (P. Hacıgüzeller) 38

21Fig. 2.2. Site plan of the Kephali with surveyed features (SF) mentioned in text (P. Hacıgüzeller). 39

22Fig. 2.3. DTM of the Kephali and its Environs (P. Hacigüzeller) 41

23Fig. 2.4. GIS-based interactive map of the Kephali (P. Hacigüzeller) 43

3. The Excavation of the Cemetery (Zone 1) 45

24Ilse Schoep
Fig. 3.1. Aerial view of the Cemetery (C. Gaston) 45

25Fig. 3.2. The Cemetery (P. Hacigüzeller) 46

26Fig. 3.3. Plan of burial spaces 1.1-1.3 (P. Hacigüzeller) 48

27Fig. 3.4. EM III/MM IA pottery deposit in southeast corner of space 1.3 (I. Schoep) 49

28Fig. 3.5. MM IIB pottery deposit in space 1.1 (I. Schoep) 50

29Fig. 3.6. Selection of MM IIB pottery from space 1.1 (P. Zintzen) 51

30Fig. 3.7. Space 1.7: MM IB-MM II straight-sided cup (P. Zintzen) 52

31Fig. 3.8. Space 1.6: EM III-MM IA handmade cup (P. Zintzen) 52

32Fig. 3.9. Burial spaces 1.11-1.12 (I. Schoep) 53

33Fig. 3.10. Space 1.12: EM II tumbler, ﬁne buff red painted (C. Papanikolopoulos) 55

4. Etude archéo-anthropologique de la nécropole (Zone 1) 57

34Isabelle Crevecoeur
Aurore Schmitt
Fig. 4.1. Structure et contenu de la chambre funéraire 1.6 (I. Crevecoeur) 60

35Fig. 4.2. Structure des chambres funéraires 1.7 et 1.8 (d’après le plan de P. Hacigüzeller). En gris clair = deux pierres recouvrant la partie supérieure du corps de l’enfant A 61

36Fig. 4.3. Photographie du niveau de galets marquant le sol de chambre 1.7 (I. Crevecoeur) 62

37Fig. 4.4. Photographie de la chambre 1.8 illustrant la partie entaillée du bedrock (I. Crevecoeur) 63

38Fig. 4.5. Relevé synthétique des restes humains fouillés lors de la campagne de 2007 avec attribution des ossements en fonction des individus (I. Crevecoeur) 64

39Fig. 4.6. Relevé synthétique des restes humains fouillés lors de la campagne de 2008 avec attribution des ossements en fonction des individus (I. Crevecoeur) 65

40Fig. 4.7. Photographie des pierres recouvrant la partie supérieure du corps de l’enfant B ainsi que du coquillage marin placé sous l’aisselle gauche de l’enfant(I. Crevecoeur) 66

41Fig. 4.8. Schéma de conservation des individus adultes (A, B et C) de la chambre 1.7 (I. Crevecoeur) 68

42Fig. 4.9. Schéma de conservation des individus immatures (A et B) de la chambre 1.7 (I. Crevecoeur) 69

43Fig. 4.10. Photographies du quartz percé (haut) et du coquillage marin (bas) retrouvés dans la chambre 1.7 (I. Crevecoeur) 70

44Fig. 4.11. Chambre funéraire 1.2: sol de petits galets (A. Schmitt) 71

45Fig. 4.12. Plan de la chambre funéraire 1.2 (P. Hacigüzeller) 72

46Fig. 4.13. Chambre funéraire 1.2 – inhumation en pithos (A. Schmitt) 72

47Fig. 4.14. Chambre funéraire 1.2 – premier décapage du squelette découvert dans le pithos (A. Schmitt) 74

48Fig. 4.15. Chambre funéraire 1.2 – dessin du squelette (A. Schmitt) 74

49Fig. 4.16. Chambre funéraire 1.2 – ﬁche de conservation (A. Schmitt) 75

50Fig. 4.17. Photographie des structures 1.10 et 1.9, vue du sud (à droite le compartiment 1.10, à gauche le compartiment 1.9) (L. Manousogiannaki) 77

51Fig. 4.18. Dessin de la structure 1.9 du dépôt osseux (A. Schmitt) 78

52Fig. 4.19. Dessin de la structure 1.9 montrant l’irrégularité du bedrock (A. Schmitt) 78

53Fig. 4.20. Vue de l’est de la structure 1.9 montrant l’irrégularité du bedrock (A. Schmitt) 79

54Tab. 4.1. NMI par pièces osseuses 80

55Fig. 4.21. Fiche de conservation des os long du dépôt osseux 1.9 (A. Schmitt) 81

56Fig. 4.22. Fiche de conservation des os coxaux, des scapulas et des clavicules du dépôt osseux 1.9 (A. Schmitt) 82

57Fig. 4.23. Fiche de conservation des éléments crâniens du dépôt osseux 1.9 (A. Schmitt) 83

58Tab. 4.2. Comptage des vertèbres et des petits éléments osseux des individus adultes de la structure 1.9 84

59Fig. 4.24. Organisation spatiale des ossements de la structure funéraire 1.9 (A. Schmitt) 85

60Fig. 4.25. Chambres funéraires 1.11 et 1.12 avec relevé synthétique des restes humains de la partie 1.11 (d’après le plan des murs de P. Hacigüzeller, dessin des ossements de I. Crevecoeur) 87

61Fig. 4.26. Relevé synthétique des restes humains de la tombe 1.11 avec les pièces de céramique entremêlées (I. Crevecoeur) 88

62Tab. 4.3. Liste des caractères discrets dentaires présents dans la collection de dents permanentes. En vert les caractères présents uniquement sur des germes dentaires (i.e. appartenant à des enfants). La ligne M Carab g exprime la fréquence du tubercule de Carabelli présent seulement sur des germes 89

63Tab. 4.4. Caractères discrets présents sur le crâne contenu dans le pithos. « X » = présent; « 0 » = absent; « - » = non observable 90

64Graph. 4.1. Répartition des valeurs de périmètre minimal de la diaphyse fémoral en fonction des zones fouillées 91

65Graph. 4.2. Box plot de la médiane et des percentiles pour l’indice pilastrique en fonction des zones 91

66Graph. 4.3. Box plot de la médiane et des percentiles pour l’indice de platymèrie en fonction des zones 92

67Graph. 4.4. Box plot de la médiane et des percentiles pour l’indice cnémique en fonction des zones 92

5. The Excavation of Zone 2

68Frank Carpentier
Fig. 5.1. Architectural plan of Building BA (P. Hacigüzeller) 95

69Fig. 5.2. Terracotta slabs found in situ (B. Decraene) 96

70Fig. 5.3. Wall B15 (dark) with longitudinal axis (red) (F. Carpentier) 97

71Fig. 5.4. Stone weight (Chr. Papanikolopoulos) 99

72Fig. 5.5. Steatite bead and pierced schist disc (Chr. Papanikolopoulos) 99

73Fig. 5.6. South wall of space 2.1, with the natural cut in the bedrock in front (L. Manousogiannaki) 100

74Fig. 5.7. Gourna dividing Wall B5 (L. Manousogiannaki) 101

75Fig. 5.8. Sea urchin remains embedded in proﬁle ( J. Driessen) 101

76Fig. 5.9. Largely intact open vase and crushed oval mouthed amphora in the northeast corner of space 2.1 (L. Manousogiannaki) 102

77Fig. 5.10. Furnished with a work platform and with an opening to Building BA and three gournes (in red) that provided access to spaces 2.1, 2.3 and 2.4 and stairs (blue), space 2.2 played a pivotal role within the building ( F. Carpentier) 103

78Fig. 5.11. Possible foundation deposit in Wall B7, east wall of space 2.2 (F. Carpentier) 104

79Fig. 5.12. Pulled rim bowl in space 2.2 as found (B. Decraene) 105

80Fig. 5.13. Polished stone axe from space 2.2 (Chr. Papanikolopoulos) 105

81Fig. 5.14. Complete cup from space 2.3 (Chr.Papanikolopoulos) 106

82Fig. 5.15. Miniature cup from space 2.3 (Chr. Papanikolopoulos) 106

83Fig. 5.16. Building BB (left) (P. Hacıgüzeller) 107

84Fig. 5.17. Building BC and Building BA to its south (North at top) (C. Gaston) 108

85Fig. 5.18. Sissi, spaces 2.3 and 2.4 (North at bottom) (C.Gaston) 109

86Fig. 5.19. Malia, Quartier Delta, Building Pi (M. Pomadere) 109

87Fig. 5.20. Terracotta loomweights of Zone 2 (Chr. Papanikolopoulos) 110

88Fig. 5.21. Bronze tool kit from Zone 2(Chr. Papanikolopoulos) 111

6. Le bâtiment du sommet de la colline

896.1 Introduction
Florence Gaignerot-Driessen
Quentin Letesson
Fig. 6.1. Le bâtiment du sommet de la colline (C. Gaston) 113

90Fig. 6.2. Le bâtiment du sommet de la colline. Plan général (F. Gaignerot-Driessen) 114

6. Le bâtiment du sommet de la colline 115

916.2. La fouille de la Zone 3
Florence Gaignerot-Driessen
Fig. 6.3. Zone 3. Photo aérienne (C. Gaston) 116

92Fig. 6.4. Plan pierre à pierre du bâtiment du sommet de la colline (Infographie P. Hacigüzeller) 117

93Fig. 6.5. Pièce 3.1. Dépôt MR IIIB.: 1: pithos 2: lékanè 3: poids 4: outil lithique (P. Zintzen) 118

94Fig. 6.6. Pièce 3.1. Dépôt MR IIIB (Infographie P. Haciguzeller) 118

95Fig. 6.7. Pièce 3.1. Installation FE5 avec fragments du pithos (07-03-0419-OB002) (P. Zintzen) 119

96Fig. 6.8. Pièce 3.1. Installation FE5 avec gourna et tache de lepidochoma (P. Zintzen) 120

97Fig. 6.9. Passoire (07-03-0419-OB004) (C. Papanikolopoulos) 120

98Fig. 6.10. Pièce 3.1. Coupelles coniques néopalatiales (07-03-0427-OB001-2) in situ (P. Zintzen) 120

99Fig. 6.11. Pièce 3.2 (J. Driessen) 121

100Fig. 6.12. Pièce 3.3. Dépôt de destruction MR IIIB (F. Gaignerot-Driessen) 122

101Fig. 6.13. Pièce 3.3. Couvercles (08-03-0459-OB001-2) (F. Gaignerot-Driessen) 122

102Fig. 6.14. Niche 3.7. Dépôt (08-03-0441-OB001-2-4-5) (H. Fiasse) 123

103Fig. 6.15. Espace 3.3 /3.4. Fragments d’un vase à étrier (08-03-0482-OB001) (F. Gaignerot-Driessen) 124

104Fig. 6.16. Pièce 3.8. ‘Snakeless tube’ (08-03-0505-OB001) (F. Gaignerot-Driessen) 124

105Fig. 6.17. Pièce 3.4. Foyer (F. Gaignerot-Driessen) 125

106Fig. 6.18. Carotte de serpentine (08-03-0451-OB006) (C. Papanikolopoulos) 126

107Fig. 6.19. Kernos (08-03-0466-OB0061) (C. Papanikolopoulos) 126

108Fig. 6.20. Zone 3. Carte de répartition et de densité de la pierre ponce au MR IIIB (F. Gaignerot-Driessen) 127

6. Le bâtiment du sommet de la colline 129

1096.3. La fouille de la Zone 4
Quentin Letesson
Fig. 6.21. Zone 4 (C. Gaston) 129

110Fig. 6.22. Plan pierre à pierre du bâtiment du sommet de la colline (Infographie: P. Hacigüzeller) 130

111Fig. 6.23. Dépôt entre murs D1 et D18 (P. Zintzen) 131

112Fig. 6.24. Mur D1 et structures environnantes (Infographie: P. Hacigüzeller) 131

113Fig. 6.25. Dépôt de coupelles coniques (Q. Letesson) 132

114Fig. 6.26. Dépôt de fondation à l’ouest du mur D11 (Q. Letesson) 133

115Fig. 6.27. Dépôt de fondation à l’ouest du mur D11 (Q. Letesson) 133

116Fig. 6.28. Pièce 4.6. Plate forme, base fragmentaire d’amphore et structure associée (L. Manousogiannaki) 134

117Fig. 6.29. Pièce 4.6. Pierre à aiguiser (Q. Letesson) 135

118Fig. 6.30. Pièce 4.6. Base de colonne (Q. Letesson) 135

119Fig. 6.31. Pièce 4.9 (C. Gaston) 136

120Fig. 6.32. Pièce 4.9 (Infographie: P. Haciguzeller) 137

121Fig. 6.33. Surface dallée ascendante au sud de D2 (Q. Letesson) 138

7. The Excavation of Zone 5 139

122Maud Devolder
Fig. 7.1. Aerial View of Zone 5 with numbered spaces and walls of Building E (C. Gaston) 139

123Fig. 7.2. Plan of the south area of Zone 5, with, in pink, the rock-cut pits (P. Hacigüzeller & M. Devolder) 140

124Fig. 7.3. Rock-cut pits in the eastern part of the south area of Zone 5 (from West) (C. Gaston) 141

125Fig. 7.4. Pit 07-05-0816-FE011 (P. Zintzen) 141

126Fig. 7.5. Pit 07-05-0819-FE013 sealed with stones and compact earth, before excavation (P. Zintzen) 142

127Fig. 7.6. Pit 07-05-0819-FE013 after excavation (P. Zintzen) 142

128Fig. 7.7. Plan of Zone 5 (P. Hacigüzeller & M. Devolder) 143

129Fig. 7.8. Aerial photo of spaces 5.1 (top), 5.2 (bottom left) and 5.3 (bottom right). Note the presence of bedrock in spaces 5.2 and 5.3 (C.Gaston) 144

130Fig. 7.9. West elevation of wall E9 (M. Devolder & V. Bouat) 144

131Fig. 7.10. Aerial view of bedrock E17 cut to form a foundation trench east of spaces 5.7 and 5.8 (C. Gaston) 145

132Fig. 7.11. Limestone column base on the bedrock forming part of the ﬂoor level in space 5.1 (M. Devolder) 146

133Fig. 7.12. Wall E13 at a higher level than the earlier ﬂoor levels in space 5.2 (at bottom) (M. Devolder) 147

134Fig. 7.13. Pottery deposit in space 5.3 (P. Zintzen) 148

135Fig. 7.14. Space 5.4 (from South) (M. Devolder) 148

136Fig. 7.15. turquoise bead with red veins (08-05-0839-OB001) from space 5.3 (C. Papanikoloupoulos) 149

137Fig. 7.16. Beehive 08-05-0921-OB002 in situ in space 5.4 (H. Fiasse) 149

138Fig. 7.17. View of space 5.5 during excavation (from South) (H. Fiasse) 150

139Fig. 7.18. Fragmentary ﬁgurine (08-05-0880-OB001) from space 5.6 (C. Papanikolopoulos) 150

140Fig. 7.19. Space 5.7 with eroded ﬂoor deposit during excavations. Note the bedrock outcropping (H. Fiasse) 151

141Fig. 7.20. View of the kernos in the bedrock in Room 5.8 (M. Devolder) 151

142Fig. 7.21. Discovery and excavation of the lead vessel (08-05-0934-OB001) in the southwest corner of space 5.8, and view of the cavity after removal of the vessel (M. Devolder) 152

143Fig. 7.22. View of space 5.11 (from West) (M. Devolder) 153

144Fig. 7.23. Opium-poppy rhyton (08-05-0952-OB003) from the destruction layer of space 5.13 (C. Papanikolopoulos) 154

145Fig. 7.24. Space 5.13 during excavation. The destruction layer (right) is partly eroded towards the west. On the left one can see the tumble of the upper layer (M. Devolder) 155

8. The Excavation of Zone 6

146Simon Jusseret
Fig. 8. 1. Layout of trenches in Zone 6 (S. Jusseret) 157

147Fig. 8. 2. Plan of Zone 6 with spaces, walls (F) and main finds (N. Kress & P. Hacigüzeller) 158

148Fig. 8. 3. Potter’s wheel fragment (08-06-2024-OB001). Top on the left (C. Papanikolopoulos) 160

9. A Preliminary Report on the Late Minoan Pottery 163

149Charlotte Langohr
Fig. 9. 1. Room 2.1. N-W corner floor deposit. Coarse vat (08-02-0258-OB003), conical cups (complete [08-02-0258-OB004] or broken [# 0258]), closed vessel (# 0257) (C. Papanikolopoulos, C. Langohr) 164

150Fig. 9.2. Room 2.1. Lower, very loosely compacted layer. Different ﬁne decorated drinking vessels (# 0242, 0245, 0270) and a fragment of a ﬁne decorated oval-mouthed amphora (08-02-0242-OB002) (C. Papanikolopoulos) 164

151Fig. 9.3. Space 2.1. a. Three examples of S-proﬁle cups with dipped decoration (08-02-0242OB004, 08-02-0242-OB005, 08-02-0245-OB0003). b. Selection of sherd material of ﬁne cups of different shapes and surface treatments (# 0242, 0245). c. Three complete proﬁles of conical cups (0802-0258-OB004, 08-02-0240-OB002, 08-02-0242-OB003) (photo: C. Papanikolopoulos, drawing: H. Joris) 166

152Fig. 9.4. Space 2.1. False neck of a ﬁnely decorated, three-handled stirrup jar (# 0276) (C. Papanikolopoulos) 167

153Fig. 9.5. Space 2.2. Pulled-rim bowl (08-02-0281-OB002) (C. Papanikolopoulos) 167

154Fig. 9.6. Space 4.1. Vase deposit in the ‘drain’ at the intersection of walls D1 and D18 (07-04-0622OB001 and 07-04-0625-OB001) (C. Papanikolopoulos) 168

155Fig. 9.7. Room 4.9. Tortoise-shell ripple style sherd (C. Papanikolopoulos) 168

156Fig. 9.8. Room 3.1. Pithos (07-03-0419-OB001) and close-up (C. Papanikolopoulos) 170

157Fig. 9.9. Room 3.1. Monochrome dark deep bowl (07-03-0419-OB008) (photo: C. Papanikolopoulos; drawing: H. Joris)) 170

158Fig. 9.10. Fine decorated squat stirrup jar (07-03-0429-OB001) found near entrance to room 3.1 (C. Langohr) 171

159Fig. 9.11. Room 3.1. Four complete conical cups from beneath the ﬂoor (07-03-0427-OB001 to 004) (A. Rymenams, H. Joris) 172

160Fig. 9.12. Room 3.3. a. Decorated bell krater (07-03-0430-OB006); b. Large shallow bowl (08-030451-OB003) (C. Papanikolopoulos) 172

161Fig. 9.13. Panelled decoration on the bell krater (07-03-0430-OB006) from room 3.3 (A. Rymenams) 172

162Fig. 9.14. Room 3.3. Concave proﬁle and pierced bottom vessel (08-03-0460-0B001), decorated lid (08-03-0459-OB001), and upper part of a shallow bowl (08-03-0451-OB007), all from room 3.3 (C. Papanikolopoulos) 173

163Fig. 9.15. Space between rooms 3.3 and 3.4. Finely decorated squat stirrup jar (08-03-0482-OB001). Probable import from the “Khania workshop” (C. Papanikolopoulos; C. Langohr [redrawn]) 173

164Fig. 9.16. LM IIIB decorated stirrup jar from the Dikastiria Cemetery at Khania (Tzedakis 1969: ﬁg. 29) 174

165Fig. 9.17. Zone 5. Selection of diagnostic LM III sherds from superﬁcial tumble layers mixed with destruction deposits (from spaces 5.2, 5.3., 5.6, 5.7, 5.8) (C. Papanikolopoulos) 174

166Fig. 9.18. Sherds of LM IIIA1 ﬁnely decorated rounded cups (# 0903, 0907) from space 5.10 (C. Papanikolopoulos) 175

167Fig. 9.19. Poppy capsule rhyton (08-05-0952-OB003) from space 5.13. Different scales (max. D.: 14 cm) (C. Langohr) 175

168Fig. 9.20. Zone 6. Miniature decorated stirrup jar (08-06-2002-OB002) (C. Langohr) 176

169Fig. 9.21. Octopus storage/transport stirrup jars. a. from room 4.9 (08-04-0718-OB002, 08-04-0718OB009). b. from room 3.1 (07-03-0414-OB002, 07-03-0429-OB002, # 0403) (C. Papanikolopoulos) 176

10. La base de données SarPedon 179

170Hubert Fiasses
Fig. 10.1. Relations entre les tables de la base de données SArPedon 179

171Fig. 10.2. Exemple de nomenclature de zembil 180

172Fig. 10.3. Capture d’écran de la page description du formulaire zembil 180

173Fig. 10.4. Boutons de navigation menu zembil 181

174Fig. 10.5. Onglets de navigation de la page du formulaire zembil 181

175Fig. 10.6. Interface de navigation du formulaire zembil pour les types object, feature, stratum, et sample 181

176Fig. 10.7. Exemple de nomenclature de sample 181

177Fig. 10.8. Tableau des correspondances sample number et leur nature 182

178Fig. 10.9. Capture d’écran de la page coordinates du formulaire zembil 182

179Fig. 10.10. Capture d’écran de la page pictures du formulaire zembil 183

180Fig. 10.11. Exemple de nomenclature de picture ou drawing 183

181Fig. 10.12. Capture d’écran de la page Apothiki du formulaire zembil 184

182Fig. 10.13. Capture d’écran de la page Apothiki du formulaire zembil (suite) 184

183Fig. 10.14. Capture d’écran de la page Harris Matrix du formulaire zembil 185

184Fig. 10.15. Utilisation du Panasonic Toughbook CF-19 lors des fouilles de Sissi en juillet 2008 (H. Fiasse) 186

185Fig. 10.16. Utilisation du Panasonic Toughbook CF-19 lors des fouilles de Sissi en juillet 2008 dans la zone 2 (H. Fiasse) 186

11. The use of a virtual tour during excavation 187

186 Thibaut Gomrée
Lina Manousogiannaki-Gomrée

187Fig. 11.1. Original photos resulting into a bracketed image (zone 3, detail of East limit) 188

188Fig. 11.2. Original photos resulting into a bracketed image (zone 3, detail of East limit) 189

189Fig. 11.3. Original photos resulting into a bracketed image (zone 3, detail of East limit) 189

190Fig. 11.4. Original photos resulting into a bracketed image (zone 3, detail of East limit) 190

191Fig. 11.5. Assembled images to a panorama (inside Building 2) 190

192Fig. 11.6. Image after contrast correction in Photoshop 191

1. Excavations on the Kephali at Sissi. Introduction

Jan Driessen

Fig. 1.1. THE KEPHALI TOU AG. ANTONIOU OR BOUFFO HILL AT SISSI (FROM NORTH) (J. DRIESSEN)

1The present volume includes an account of two seasons of excavations that have taken place on the Bouffo or Kephali tou Ag. Antoniou at Sissi by the Belgian School at Athens, the first campaign from July 6th to July 27th, 2007, the second from July 14th to August 23rd, 2008. The excavations were directed by J. Driessen of the Université Catholique de Louvain, in collaboration with I. Schoep of the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven. We are extremely grateful to V. Apostolakou and V. Zografaki of the KD’ Ephoria for a splendid collaboration. S. Michou (2007) and L. Manousogiannaki (2008) represented the Ephoria during the work. Funding was provided by the Institute for Aegean Prehistory, the Université Catholique de Louvain, the Fonds National de la Recherche Scientifique, the Fonds voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek and a series of private sponsors to whom we are all very grateful – their names are mentioned explicitly on our website http://www.sarpedon.be.

2We are also grateful to the rectors of our universities, Prof. B. Coulie (UCL) and Prof. M. Vervenne (KUL) as well as Prof. R. Keunings (head Research Council UCL) and Prof. H. Bouillon (Dean of Arts, UCL) for their support. Site recording was greatly accelerated and facilitated in 2008 by the use of toughbooks, six site computers made available at low cost by Panasonic Belgium.We would also like to thank the Ecole française d’Athènes and its director, D. Mulliez, for putting at our disposal the apothikes of the dig house at Malia where our material is still stored. E. and K. Kivernitakis and A. and M. Moulara we thank for their Cretan hospitality (including the loan of a pick-up truck) and the mayor of the kinotita Vrachasiou, Mr. G. Sfirakis, and Mr. V. Prineas and M. Mamaloukos of the Bouffo Beach Bar, for making site work more agreeable. Mr. Christos Mamaloukos facilitated our life in general. We are also very grateful to Christope Gaston (EFA) for an excellent series of aerial and vertical telescopic cane photographs, to INSTAPEC and its director, Dr. T. Brogan, for the use of two site sieves, and to the IMS at Rethymnon and Dr. A. Sarris for the rent of a total station during both campaigns. Mr. P. Iossif, secretary of the Belgian School at Athens kindly took care of IKA and other administrative issues. In 2008, we were also the focus of a documentary of the French speaking Belgian television (RTBF: La Une, Au Quotidien: M. Ernst, J. Renard). Mrs. A. Debroux of the UCL is thanked for helping with various printing issues, Mrs. B. Vervaren (UCL) and Mrs. I. Lermuseau (UCL) for help with accounts.

3In toto about 35 archaeologists and students, mainly from the UCLouvain and the KULeuven but also from Brus-sels, Paris, Ghent and Saloniki Universities, as well as 12 local workmen, with Giorgios Metaxarakis as foreman, were involved in the two campaigns (see figs. 1.18 & 1.19). First Prof. C.J. Knappett (Un. of Toronto) and then Dr. C. Langohr (UCL-FNRS) directed the work in the apothiki, assisted by F. Liard. A. Aertssen (2007, 2008) and C. Delmotte (2008) took care of logistics. Soil sampling (dry and wet sieving) was done throughout through the care of Ms. S. Michou in 2007 whereas in 2008 Dr. Q. Letesson (UCL-FNRS) supervised the soil flotation of some 1500 litres of samples by P. Baulain, C. Digiovanni, V. Vanderlinden and C. Farnoux. In 2008, Dr. V. Isaakidou made a preliminary assessment of the environmental work and C. Baeteman helped in the geoarchaeology. Initial restoration of moveable objects (mostly pottery, a few metal pieces) was performed by Mr. C. Zachariou in 2007 whereas Alekos and Nearchos Nikakis expertly mended a series of vases and took care of the consolidation and removal of the lead amphora found in zone 5 during the 2008 campaign. All photography, including DVD–recording of site work, was done by P. Zintzen in 2007 and by H. Fiasse and L. Manoussogianaki in 2008. A special data base for the project was created by H. Fiasse, who also crafted our website. Objects were drawn by A. Rymenams, assisted by H. Joris (2008). The INSTAPEC photographer, C. Papanikolopoulos, came over to photograph objects (2008). We are grateful to H. Prokopiou for advice on stone tools and to our visitors (A. Farnoux, V. Zografaki, C.F. Macdonald, J.A. MacGillivray, S. Hemingway, L.H. Sackett, S. Muller, D. Panagiotopoulos, R. Docter, D. Viviers, K. Nowicki, S. Wallace, T.F. Cunningham, S. Soetens, H. Matthäus, D. Klontzas, J. Germain, M. Guterres, H. Bouillon, C & A. Dehollander, G. Markakis, MP M. Souladakis, the Zouraris family, Papamichalis, and a score of interested locals) for interesting observations and assistance.

1. Location and interest of the Site

4The Kephali hill is located about 500 m east of the present modern coastal village of Sissi, (Σίσι), itself about 4 km east of the palace of Malia (figs. 1.2 & 1.3). It is one of the villages that make up the present kinotita Vrachasiou (Eparchia Mirabello, nomos Lassithi) together with Vrachasi, Milatos, Epano Sissi and Latsida. The hill has an extent of about 3ha and is up to 22 m high. It slopes up gently from north to south, but its east, west and south edges present relatively steep ridges that have obvious defensive qualities. The river coming out the Selinari gorge has an outlet on both sides of the hill, now artificially turned into sandy beaches called Bouffo(s) to the west and Avlaki to the east. The summit plateau provides a fine view over the coast towards Malia east and Milatos west as well as the hinterland towards the Selinari gorge and Selena Mountains, the foothills of the Lassithi. Both coastal and inland roads passed here in ancient and more modern times, giving the site an obvious strategic importance (fig. 1.3). This and its proximity to the palatial site at Malia form two of the research issues especially directing the work. The location of the Kephali hill is of utmost importance since it controls two land routes from west to east Crete that were undoubtedly important both during prehistoric and historical times.

Fig. 1.2. CRETE: THE LOCATION OF SISSI, EAST OF MALIA (P. HACIGÜZELLER)

The coastal route from Malia to Milatos: travelling from west to east, the hill stands directly across the coastal route connecting Milatos with the west and has been actually traced from the Malia palace up to the west side of the modern Sissi village (Müller 1991: 551), north of the Arkovouno hill.

The inland route from Malia to Neapolis passing the Selinari gorge. The Kephali hill is located exactly opposite the northern entrance of this gorge and the stream bed leading through the gorge abuts on either side of the Kephali.

5This may imply that both routes from the east actually converged at the Kephali, where they became one route that continued westwards. If this were the case, then the Kephali hill may have been a node in an interregional network and excavation will throw light on network dynamics in this part of the assumed ‘Malia State’ (Knappett 1999).

6Our work had also partly the nature of an emergency excavation. Despite the fencing of the site by the Ephoreia in 2005, both locals and tourists regularly damaged the enclosure and trespassed, the first mainly in their search for chorta and for pasturing sheep, the second using the site as a shortcut to reach the better beach at Kharkoma1. Trespassing and erosion resulted in revealing pottery fragments and human bones in connection to damaged architectural features in zone 1, the funerary area2 (cf. fig. 1.4).

Fig. 1.3. TOPOGRAPHICAL MAP WITH ANCIENT LAND AND SEA ROUTES, CONVERGING AT THE KEPHALI IN SISSI (P. HACIGÜZELLER)

Fig. 1.4. HUMAN BONES IN THE FUNERARY AREA (ZONE 1) OF THE KEPHALI SHOWING BEFORE EXCAVATIONS (J. DRIESSEN)

2. Earlier Explorations

7The Kephali tou ag. Antoniou (after a small chapel immediately south of the hill) or Bouffo hill (after the west beach that received its name from the noise made by the waves into a submerged cave against the north side of the hill), has been known for some time in travel and archaeological literature. Sissi (as Sisi) is first mentioned in Venetian records of 1391 (Spanakis 1991: 714-715) and old Venetian (Boschini [1651], Coronelli [1696]) and Dutch maps (Mercator [1590]; J.B. Homann [1704]) indicate a place called Sissi or Sisi, sometimes east of Milato(s), sometimes west of it (Sfiroeras 1985, Melas 2005). It is possible that one cartographer was copying the fault of another but it may perhaps not be excluded altogether that the toponym travelled around within this limited area. Marinatos (1949, 11-16) at one time suggested that Milatos was the original name for Malia which eventually moved east. Sometimes another toponym, Ciccalari(a) is found on maps at the spot where Sissi is located (Spanakis 1991: 715, for some other references). Since the founding of the mountain village at Vrachasi against the Anavlochos – also first mentioned in 1391 (Spanakis 1991: 202) – Sissi served as a maritime outlet for its produce. Local informants mention that the Bouffo and Kharkoma beaches were used during Ottoman times by sailing boats and that a signalling post on the Anavlochos existed to warn Vrachasiotes of their arrival. Present topographical and sea current conditions are not favourable to the use of the Bouffo and Avlaki beaches as safe anchoring places for sea crafts. It is, however, not impossible that the site served as a secondary harbour in Minoan and historical times. A proper geomorphological diachronic reconstruction of the coast-line may elucidate this point in the future.

8Milatos, the village east of Sissi, receives a mention in the Iliad (2.647) as being one of the seven Cretan cities that sent contingents to the Trojan War. Sarpedon, brother of Minos and Rhadamanthys, is also generally associated with this area of the island since myth has it that both Minos and Sarpedon were in love with a boy called Milatos, who preferred Sarpedon (Herodotos I, 173). Minos, in his anger, exiled both and they ended up in Asia Minor, Milatos as founder of Miletus, Sarpedon as king of the Lycians (cf. Marinatos 1949: 16). It is usually thought that his son or grandson fought with the Trojans and, when killed by Patroclos, was carried away by Thanatos and Hipnos, a theme quite popular in later Greek vase painting.

9In 1865, Captain Spratt mentions the creek at Seese (Sissi) as well as the existence of a toponym helleniko which, according to the locals, indicated antiquities (Spratt 1865: 112).

10In the fifties, Paul Faure (pers. com.) visited the area during his explorations of the island, noting the presence of a large, natural cave east (spiliada) off the Bouffo – the same that was later used as a cattle mandra by a local cattle farmer Voidas and now used as a fancy restaurant by the Kalimera Kriti hotel. In one of his later publications, Faure remarks the following:

A 500 m au Nord de Kato Sisi (Mirabellou), en bordure de la mer, sur une terrasse rocheuse qui la domine d’une dizaine de mètres, dite Kremasma, ont été ramassées en 1929 un certain nombre de têtes humaines, très sommairement modelées dans l’argile, certaines pourvues d’une sorte de couronne (BCH 1929: 529). Mr. A. Dessenne qui les a étudiées en 1949 (BCH 1949, 307-315) les a justement attribuées à un enclose sacré, d’une vingtaine de mètres carrés, sans fondations visibles. Il proposait de les dater du MR 3 en raison des tessons de pithoi, d’amphores et de coupelles trouvés au voisinage. Mr Davaras, qui a visité le site en 1963 (Kr. Chr. 1963, 405), n’a identifié qu’un dépôt de tessons et de figurines d’époque subminoenne, ce qui paraît aussi vraisemblable étant donné la facture grossière de la plupart des visages. A 300 m à l’Est, au lieu-dit ormos Charkoma, la légende veut qu’on ait trouvé un chaudron de cuivre3. Ce petit mouillage est dominé par la butte de Kefali, au Sud, couverte de tessons et de murailles MR 3, semble-t-il (alt. 25 à 30 m). Dans l’angle oriental du mouillage, au lieu-dit Boufos ont été découverts en 1962 une figurine masculine d’argile à étui phallique et un vase trilobé (Kr.Chr. 1963, 399). Rappelons que Sisi a été un petit port très actif jusque vers 1914 (Faure 1967 : 142).

11Faure added that the name of the hill to the east, Kaminia, would also indicate an area of ancient tombs and that Sisi is a prehellenic name (Faure 1967: 142-143), something also underlined by Spanakis 1991: 715). It is sometimes connected to the city of Sis in Asia Minor and probably indicates a place where water rushes out (P. Faure per litteras 31.5.2007). The ritual deposit mentioned by Faure in the area to the west of the hill, at Kremasma, was found by Demargne in the 20’s (Demargne 1929: 529; Dessenne 1949: 307-315) and then dated to Minoan times. It was said to belong to a site at...