PhD (University of Sheffield), MSc (University of Sheffield, 2002)

Student

University of Sheffield
Department of Archaeology
2, Mappin Street
Sheffield, S1 4DT
Email: imoutafi@yahoo.gr
Phone:0030 6977 716943

The excavation of the Early Cycladic site of Keros, Dhaskalio Kavos, revealed an assemblage of human remains in a series of natural cremices, south of the Special Deposit of marble vessels and figurines. The demographically variable sample of disarticulated, commingled human bones includes dental and post-cranial remains. The selective representation of specific anatomical units signifies the unusual character of this assebmladge and suggests the existence of a secondary burial ritual.
The scarcity of Early Cycladic skeletal remains renders their analysis extremely important for Aegean Prehistory. This bioarchaeological analysis will offer the reconstruction of the biological profile of this population, and will explore the special character of the mortuary deposition. If a secondary burial custom is confirmed it will be the first testified case in the Cyclades. Moreover, issues related to the preservation of this material assist the general interpretation of the Keros site, confirming the absence of human bones from the South Special Deposit.
This study will be published as: Moutafi, I. "The human remains from Trench A, Dhaskalio Kavos" in Renfrew et al (forthcoming) "An Early Cycladic Centre: Excavations at Dhaskalio and Dhaskalio Kavos, Keros 2006-2008"