02.03.2013 Views

eTheses Repository - University of Birmingham

eTheses Repository - University of Birmingham

eTheses Repository - University of Birmingham

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

as the cemetery <strong>of</strong> Mantinea (see Hodkinson & Hodkinson 1981; Arch.Delt. 1982, p.118).<br />

However, references to earlier material (Morgan 1999, p.390; AR 1984-5, p.23-4) and<br />

artefacts in the Tripolis museum suggest that some <strong>of</strong> the material from the area belongs to<br />

the Late Geometric period. In addition to this, the Hellenic Ministry <strong>of</strong> Culture states that the<br />

town <strong>of</strong> Mantinea was in fact founded in the Geometric period. The burials <strong>of</strong> Milea that date<br />

from the Classical period onwards were dotted around the plain to the southeast, north and<br />

northeast <strong>of</strong> the later town, and it may be that some <strong>of</strong> the LG material originated from<br />

scattered burial plots also. Moreover, if pithos burials from close to Nestani to the east<br />

reported by Hodkinson & Hodkinson (1981, p.292), belong to the Geometric period (pithos<br />

burials are known throughout many periods <strong>of</strong> ancient Greece especially in the Peloponnese:<br />

Kurtz & Boardman 1973, p.189-90; Hodkinson & Hodkinson 1981, p.294), then it reinforces<br />

an idea that burials were also located on the plain at this time. The scattered locations <strong>of</strong> such<br />

burials could then be indicative <strong>of</strong> dispersed villages and their associated burial plots<br />

(Hodkinson, 1981: 294), thus supporting Morgan’s (1999, p.390) suggestion <strong>of</strong> yet<br />

undiscovered scattered settlements existing on the plain.<br />

However, the pithoi found near Nestani might have been part <strong>of</strong> a larger burial ground to be<br />

associated with the site at Nestani-Paniyiristra, especially if they are in fact to be dated to the<br />

Classical or later periods. On the other hand, these burials are positioned on relatively high<br />

ground, at the point at which the plain <strong>of</strong> Nestane joins the Mantinean plain, and was perhaps<br />

chosen because <strong>of</strong> the problem <strong>of</strong> flooding particularly associated with the plain <strong>of</strong> Nestane<br />

(Pausanias 8.7.1), rather than due to proximity to a presumed settlement. In addition, the<br />

ground at this point is pebbly colluvium and thus less fertile, suggesting that the area was<br />

chosen for burial because <strong>of</strong> the qualities <strong>of</strong> the immediate landscape above other<br />

considerations (Hodkinson & Hodkinson 1981, p.294).<br />

201

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!