Burials and human osteological remains from the Βronze Αge acropolis of Aghios Ioannis in northeastern Kopais, Boeotia, Greece: Preliminary results of the bioarchaeological analysis

Paraskevi Tritsaroli,Philipp W Stockhammer,Thaleia Konstantakou,Elena Kountouri

doi:10.1016/j.jasrep.2020.102751

Abstract

This paper reports on the MH II/III Burial Cluster II excavated at the MH acropolis of Aghios Ioannis in Boeotia, Greece. The burial ground comprises various funerary structures (tumulus, rectangular enclosure, cist graves) and provides evidence on primary and secondary mortuary treatment. The analysis is based on the remains of 22 individuals and explores issues of health and mortuary practices. The contextual approach of the human osteological remains reveals variations in the treatment at death of different age groups and evidence of differences in mortuary practices according to biological sex and everyday life; results add further to the discussion on the renegotiated individual and collective identities in the mortuary sphere at this formative period for the subsequent Mycenaean era in Boeotia and Mainland Greece.

Highlights

IntroductionDuring the Middle Helladic period, Boeotia found itself in the center of dynamic developments which took place in Mainland Greece and marked the emergence of complex forms of social organization and of elaborate cultural processes
This paper reports on the MH II/III Burial Cluster II excavated at the MH acropolis of Aghios Ioannis in Boeotia, Greece
During the Middle Helladic period, Boeotia found itself in the center of dynamic developments which took place in Mainland Greece and marked the emergence of complex forms of social organization and of elaborate cultural processes

Summary

Introduction

During the Middle Helladic period, Boeotia found itself in the center of dynamic developments which took place in Mainland Greece and marked the emergence of complex forms of social organization and of elaborate cultural processes. The rise of strategic fortified sites (e.g. Thebes, Orchomenos) and their associated communities around Lake Kopais demonstrates an emerging settlement hierarchy and a gradual centralization of power toward the end of that period. Central to un derstanding these changes are first the chronological sequence and the socio-economic relationships of these strongholds in relation to the drainage of all or parts of Lake Kopais, and second the role of Gla as a control center of the overall drainage and crop-storage system (Iakovi dis, 1989, 1998; see Kountouri: 28-32, 2019; Kountouri, forth coming a). Evidence for the Mycenaean presence at both sites sheds more light on the Middle Helladic and Mycenaean background to these settlements that developed on the north edge of what was formerly Lake Kopais (Kountouri and Lane, forthcoming)

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Conclusion