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Mycenaean feasting on Tsoungiza at Ancient Nemea
Hesperia, Spring, 2004 by Mary K. Dabney, Paul Halstead, Patrick Thomas
[FIGURE 6 OMITTED]
The EU 9 deposit includes relatively few medium-coarse and coarse utilitarian vessels (criterion 5). For example, nearly a fifth of the coarse diagnostic sherds from the EU 2 deposit come from vats, tubs, and large basins; because the sherds from these sorts of vessels in EU 9 were in general much smaller and harder to classify than those from the EU 2 deposit, exact percentages are impossible to determine, but comparable vessels appear to account for only 10% of the EU 9 deposit.
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Finally, oversized versions of some pots are present (criterion 6). A small number of kylix sherds have rim diameters of more than 20 cm. The FS 295 SABs present in this deposit are on the whole larger than usual. In the EU 2 deposit dating to LH IIIB1, almost all of the SABs have rim diameters that fall between 13 and 16 cm; most of the examples in the EU 9 deposit range from 15 to 18 cm, but a number of examples are considerably larger, with diameters up to 23 cm. The larger specimens are not simply a reflection of their period since the average rim diameter, even in LH IIIA2, ranges from around 15 to 18 cm.
In conclusion, although the partial excavation of the EU 9 deposit and the difficulties in finding comparable data must be considered, the pottery in the EU 9 deposit nevertheless fulfills most of the criteria proposed for recognizing feasting activities in ceramic assemblages.
FEMALE FIGURE AND OTHER EVIDENCE
The presence of a fragmentary ceramic female figure (Figs. 7; 8:a) makes the Tsoungiza deposit stand out as unique. The figure belongs to Elizabeth French's type A, best known from the cult centers at Mycenae and Phylakopi. (28) Only the lower two-thirds was recovered, with attachment scars for the arms on its sides; its restored height is 45 cm. The date of the pottery with which it was deposited confirms a date of LH IIIA for the first appearance of these types of figures, surmised by French from the decoration on figures found in later contexts. (29) A comparable figure, smaller but approximately contemporary, was discovered at Pylos. (30)
[FIGURE 7 OMITTED]
At Tsoungiza, no associated architectural context has been identified for the figure. The only excavated structure at the site with LH IIIA2 destruction debris is later (LH IIIA2 [late]) than the EU 9 deposit. This finding is not surprising, considering that the cult centers where similar figures occur were not built until LH IIIA2 and later, when the palatial centers were already established. (31) Although it is possible that the figure was originally housed in a structure that was either not preserved or outside the area excavated, (32) there is no evidence for a built cult center at Tsoungiza.
The EU 9 deposit also contained other types of figurines (Fig. 8), including two unusual "breadmaker" figurines, three female figurines, and one bovine figurine. Also found were a ceramic bead, fragments of seven ground stone tools (millstones, handstones, and a whetstone), and one chert and three obsidian retouched chipped stone tools. Plant remains from the deposit are typical of most deposits at Tsoungiza and are not significant because only a few species were found due to poor preservation. (33)
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