Children's cemetery discovered in Tenedos Ancient City excavations

During excavation work carried out at the end of 2023 in the necropolis area of the ancient city in the Bozcaada district of Çanakkale, numerous children's graves were identified. It was determined that children who died at an early age were buried with grave goods in pithos (jar) burials, amphora burials, and stone-lined graves.

Don't leave your news choices to an algorithm - decide for yourself what you read. Add 12punto to your preferred sources!

Children's cemetery discovered in Tenedos Ancient City excavations

The excavations of the ancient city of Tenedos were conducted by a 12-person team led by Prof. Dr. Turan Takaoğlu, a faculty member of the Archaeology Department at Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums.

Excavation work during the 2023 season was first carried out at Bozcaada Castle and subsequently in the necropolis area of the ancient city. The excavations in the necropolis yielded new data, particularly regarding child burials.

PITHOS BURIAL DRAWS ATTENTION

Among the excavated children's graves, a particularly remarkable example is a 6th-century BC pithos or jar burial into which a second jar burial was later placed in the 4th century BC.

It was determined that six terracotta figurines and one bronze pin in the shape of a horse's hoof were placed inside the later jar burial as grave goods.

In general, these figurines, which can be associated with the cult of Dionysus, the ancient Greek god of festivals, depict two dancers wearing eastern clothing and Phrygian caps, a woman playing a stringed musical instrument (a lyre), and three standing women.

FINDINGS DELIVERED TO THE MUSEUM

The placement of figurines depicting dancers and musicians in a grave is seen as an archaeological indicator of reaching and integrating with the god through dancing, reflecting the religious beliefs of the period. The excavation findings were subjected to restoration and conservation processes by Dr. Çilem Yavşan, a member of the Tenedos excavation team.

Following the excavation season, the findings were delivered to the Troy Museum Directorate.

News Source: İHA