Human burial found in the middle of sacrificial altar at Mt. Lykaion
New and highly significant finds came to light during this year’s excavations at the sanctuary of Zeus at Mt. Lykaion, located in the southwestern tip of Arcadia, where local tradition held that Zeus, king of the gods, was born and raised.
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View of the skeleton found at the center of Mt. Lykaion s altar [Credit: Greek Ministry of Culture] |
The Greek-American collaborative archaeological research project taking place on the site since 2004, has yielded new important information about the altar. Pottery from within the excavation trenches attests to the fact that human activity on the hill dates back to the Neolithic period and throughout the Early and Middle Bronze Age. During the Mycenaean period the hill emerges as an important sanctuary and was to remain a place of worship well into historical times. The animal sacrifices in honour of Zeus, mainly goats and sheep, indicate continuous religious activity at the altar from at least the 16th century BC through to the Hellenistic period.
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View of the skeleton found at the center of Mt. Lykaion s altar showing the stone slabs covering the pelvic area [Credit: Greek Ministry of Culture] |
The skull of the deceased is missing, although the lower jaw is preserved. The narrow trench was lined with carefully carved stone slabs on the north and south sides, and the deceased’s pelvic area had also been covered with slabs.
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Monumental staircase at the end of lower sanctuary's corridor at Mt. Lykaion [Credit: Greek Ministry of Culture] |
From the 4th century BC onwards, written sources mention human sacrifices at the altar of Lykaion Mountain but, till now, no human bones had ever been revealed during excavations in the area. The study of the skeleton is in progress but, despite the fact that it is still too early to draw conclusions as to the cause of death, the burial’s prominent position in the middle of the altar, and its orientation, clearly demonstrate its importance.
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General view of the lower sanctuary with the administrative building, stoa, hippodrome, stadium and baths [Credit: Greek Ministry of Culture] |
In the administrative building - previously identified as a xenonas or guest-house - a large clay sima (ie., the upturned edge of a roof which acts as a gutter) was found. Within a circular natural formation (visible on Google Earth) which is been located West of the stoa and East of a fountain, the excavators brought to light two well-preserved clay water-pipes, one stone basin and traces of a wall, possibly from a sanctuary of Pan which is documented in sources but has yet to be located.
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View of the southern peak of Mount Lykaion with the ash altar of Zeus at the top [Credit: Greek Ministry of Culture] |
Excavations at the sanctuary will continue until 2020.
The Mt. Lykaion research program is a Greek-American cooperation under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture and Sport and the American School of Classical Studies. Co-director of the project is Dr. Anna Vasiliki Karapanagiotou, Head of Antiquities Arcadia, and Dr. David Gilman Romano and Dr. Mary E.Voyatzis from the University of Arizona.
Source: Greek Ministry of Culture [August 11, 2016]
Lots of thought on this. Are sacrifices usually buried so? Perhaps he has another reason to be there?
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