Cambridge Keros Project 2006-2008: Season 2006
Excavation: Research excavation
Thanks are due to the Ephor of the KA' Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities, and for financial support to INSTAP, the Balzan Foundation, the McDonald Institute, the British Academy, the Society of Antiquaries of London, and the British School at Athens. The purpose of the 2006 project was to investigate this very rich site and explore the nature of its centrality through excavation in the settlement area on Dhaskalio Island and in the other parts of the Kavos area opposite, most of them undisturbed by looters. Work began with a GPS survey to re-establish a grid on Kavos and to extend this to Dhaskalio Island. The initial focus of excavation was at the south end of the Kavos area, where the 1987 survey, led by Dr Todd Whitelaw, had noted indications of elite materials, suggesting the possibility of finding further material of 'Special Deposit’ character, which might have escaped the depredations of looters. In this we were very successful. An intense concentration of 'Special Deposit' character was found extending over much of four 10 m squares. The area was carefully excavated within a grid of 4 m squares, with three-dimensional recording of all special finds. These again included ceramic fine wares abundant marble bowl fragments and more than 200 fragments of marble figurines. It was clear that looters had not disturbed the deposits. The objects recovered had obviously been broken in ancient times, and the breakages must have been deliberate. Further study will be needed to see if any of the fragments recovered can be joined together. But it is already clear that most of the finds were not originally broken in this location. The fragmentation process occurred elsewhere - whether elsewhere on Keros or on other islands remains to be investigated. Work of a more restricted nature was carried out between the new Special deposit on Kavos South and the original Special Deposit further north. Preliminary work, including sherd collection, was also undertaken on Dhaskalio Island. Water sieving was undertaken, and no human bones or teeth were recovered from the new Special Deposit, which therefore does not seem to have served as a cemetery. Nor is there any evidence of marble-working activity. The preliminary interpretation must be that this was a place of deposition and disposal of deliberately broken elite materials, possibly within a ritual context. On that basis, Dhaskalio Kavos might be the earliest regional ritual centre yet recognised in the Aegean. Further consideration as to function must await the projected 2007 and 2008 excavation seasons, and particularly the further investigation of the settlement on Dhaskalio.
Active from 03 May 2006 to 17 Jun 2006.
Renfrew, Professor Andrew Colin
Philaniotou, Dr Olga
Brodie, Professor Neil James