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Excavation

  • Siris Herakleia
  • Policoro
  • Siris Herakleia
  • Italy
  • Basilicate
  • Province of Matera
  • Policoro

Tools

Credits

  • The Italian Database is the result of a collaboration between:

    MIBAC (Ministero per i Beni e le Attività Culturali - Direzione Generale per i Beni Archeologici),

    ICCD (Istituto Centrale per il Catalogo e la Documentazione) and

    AIAC (Associazione Internazionale di Archeologia Classica).

  • AIAC_logo logo

Summary (English)

  • In 2007 in the central zone of the sanctuary the upper interface of a layer of fill and of terracing comprising large tile fragments mostly in a horizontal position, large stones, occasional bone fragments, a little earth and some small cobbles was uncovered. The entire layer was removed. The material clearly diminished as the excavation went down. At about the centre of trench 5/04 the termination of a sort of steep step sloping down towards the north emerged. Between this steep “step” and the two low walls at right angles there was a cult deposit. The walls at right angles probably originally belonged to a rectangular structure (2.5 × 1.00 m), further remains of which appeared in trench 5/04. The walls comprising a single course of stones and tile were only finished on the exterior. The line of the wall was very irregular on the interior and suggested the presence of a massive fill. In this way a structure is delineated with a height of at least 0.40 cm, whose shape resembles a block altar. No remains of a presumed slab for the altar top were found. The tops of the walls excavated to date were all at the same level and which would seem to attest that they were part of the upper and final part of the structure. The height of the walls decreased to the north in steps, following the north-south slope. Among the small-medium stones in the fill inside the “altar” there were also miniature vases (beakers, plates and hydriskai ) and fragments of large containers of 4th-3rd century B.C. date.

    Up against the southern edge of trench 1/07 a cult deposit was identified (4 × 0.80 m), excavated in several layers although it was clear that this was the result of a single ritual event.
    Within the deposit there was evidence of diverse types of ritual. Two medium sized cobbles were inside a skyphos that was placed upside down, attesting the offering of stones also attested in the Thesmophorion of Bitalemi/Gela. The perforated necks and bases of vases inserted into the ground like funnels indicated the pouring of libations. A pig’s tooth and several animal bone fragments attest possible sacrifices. The find of a silver incuse drachm with a backwards looking bull, datable to around 520 B.C. documented that as well as the usual ex-voto, offerings of coins were also made within the sanctuary. An unusual find was constituted by two small hand modelled terracotta feet belonging to a miniature table.

  • Michael Tschurtschenthaler - Univ. Innsbruck Institut fur Klassische Archeologie Leopold-Franzens 

Director

Team

  • Brinna Otto - Università di Innsbruck
  • Marta Golin - Università di Innsbruck
  • Veronica Gertl - Università di Innsbruck
  • Salvatore Bianco - Soprintendenza per i Beni Archeologici della Basilicata
  • Gerhard Forstenpointner - Università di Innsbruck
  • Barbara Welte - Università di Innsbruck
  • Otto Defranceschi - Università di Innsbruck

Research Body

  • Universitá di Innsbruck, Austria (Ist. archeologia classica)

Funding Body

  • Università di Innsbruck

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