Cultural Interactions and Social Strategies on the Pontic Shores

Jane Hjarl Petersen

Description

In Antiquity, the Black Sea region was a meeting point for several different population groups with diverse cultural backgrounds. The present monograph takes its point of departure in burial data from four coastal localities in the northern region of the Black Sea. The mortuary practices are decoded and interpreted within a framework mainly based on concepts of cultural interaction rather than cultural polarisation. Thus, the dogma of 'The Greeks and the Others' is challenged, and alternative perceptions of interactions between the people in the Black Sea region form the basis of the study. The burials are primarily analysed with emphasis on social strategies and cultural diversity. Furthermore, the Black Sea region is set into a comparative perspective through an outlook on burial customs and mortuary practices in the colonial milieus of contemporary Southern Italy.

Sujets

• Colonisation
• Classics
• Ancient history

Informations

• Publié par: Aarhus University Press
• Date de parution: 16 juillet 2010
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9788779342583
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 43 Mo

Extrait

CULTURAL INTERACTIONS AND SOCIAL STRATEGIES
In Antiquity the Black Sea region was a meeting point for several different population groups
with diverse cultural backgrounds. The present monograph takes its point of departure in CULTURAL INTER ACTIONS AND SOCIAL
burial data from four coastal localities in the northern region of the Black Sea. The mortu‑
ary practices are decoded and interpreted within a framework mainly based on concepts of STRATEGIES ON THE PONTIC SHORESBSScultural interaction rather than cultural polarisation. Thus, the dogma of ‘The Greeks and the
Others’ is challenged, and alternative perceptions of interactions between the people in the 12
Black Sea region form the basis of the study. The burials are primarily analysed with empha‑ BURIAL CUSTOmS IN THE NORTHERN BLACk SEA AREA C. 550‑270 BC
sis on social strategies and cultural diversity. Furthermore, the Black Sea region is set into a
comparative perspective through an outlook on burial customs and mortuary practices in the
Jane Hjarl Petersencolonial milieus of contemporary Southern Italy.
I S B N 978-87-7934-520-1
9 788779 345201
82961_om_cultural inter_r2.indd 1 5/14/10 11:25 AMCULTURAL INTERACTIONS AND SOCIAL
STRATEGIES ON THE PONTIC SHORESCULTURAL INTERACTIONS AND SOCIAL
STRATEGIES ON THE PONTIC SHORESBLACK SEA STUDIES
12
THE DANISH NATIONAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION’S
CENTRE FOR BLACK SEA STUDIESCULTURAL INTERACTIONS
AND SOCIAL STRATEGIES
ON THE PONTIC SHORES
Burial Customs in the Northern Black Sea Area
c. 550‑270 BC
By Jane Hjarl Petersen
AARHUS UNIVERSITY PRESS aCULTURAL INTERACTIONS AND SOCIAL STRATEGIES
ON THE PONTIC SHORES
© Arhus University Press 2010
Cover Design by Jakob Munk Højte and Tom Birch Hansen
ISBN 978 87 7934 258 3
AARHUS UNIVERSITY PRESS
Langelandsgade 177
DK‑8200 Aarhus N
White Cross Mills
Lancaster LA1 4XS
England
Box 511
Oakville, CT 06779
USA
www.unipress.dk
The publication of this volume has been made possible by
generous grants from
The Aarhus University Research Foundation
Landsdommer V. Gieses Legat
E. Lerager Larsens Fond
E . Munksgaard Fonden
Danish National Research Foundation’s
Centre for Black Sea Studies
Building 1451
University of Aarhus
DK‑8000 Aarhus C
www.pontos.dkContents
Preface 7
Chapter 1 Introduction 9
1.1 Presentation of the study 9
1.2 A few practicalities 11
1.3 An introduction to the research history of Russian archaeology 20
1.4 Western theories of burial archaeology 28
1.5  The Greeks and the ‘Others’ in the burial data of the Black Sea region 33
Chapter 2 Olbia 41
2.1 An introduction to the research history of Olbia 41
2.2 An assessment and critique of the primary publications 45
2.3 An introduction to the main phases of the city’s development 51
2.4 Analyses of the material 61
2.5 Main conclusions of the analyses 110
2.6  Previous interpretations of the Archaic and early Classical burial
data from Olbia 111
2.7 An overview of other localities in the northwestern Black Sea region 115
Chapter 3 Kerkinitis 121
3.1 An introduction to the research history of Kerkinitis 121
3.2 An introduction to the main phases of the city’s development 123
3.3 Analyses of the material 128
3.4 The kurgans of Kerkinitis and an overview of nearby Kalos Limen 147
3.5 Main conclusions of the analyses 152
Chapter 4 Panskoe I 155
4.1 An introduction to the research history of Panskoe I 155
4.2 An introduction to the settlement’s development 156
4.3 Analyses of the material 160
4.4  An overview of the surrounding burial landscape of the
northwestern Crimea 194
4.5 Main conclusions of the analyses 1966 Cultural interactions on the Pontic Shores
Chapter 5 Nymphaion 199
5.1 An introduction to the research history of Nymphaion 199
5.2 An introduction to the main phases of the city’s development 200
5.3 Analyses of the material 208
5.4 Main conclusions of the analyses 250
5.5 An overview of other localities in the northeastern Black Sea region 251
Chapter 6 Summing up the Black Sea burial evidence 259
6.1 The results of the analyses 259
6.2 Looking for aspects of cultural interaction in the burial data 263
Chapter 7 From the Black Sea to southern Italy 267
7.1 The Archaic to early Classical period (c. 550‑480) 269
7.2 The Classical period (c. 480‑400) 280
7.3 The Late Classical to early Hellenistic period (c. 399‑270) 290
7.4 Cultural identities in southern Italy and the northern Black Sea 297
Conclusions 301
Summary in Russian 309
Bibliography 315
Abbreviations 341
Colour plates 343
Indices 359Preface
The present volume springs from my PhD dissertation defended at the Uni‑
versity of Aarhus in 2007. In recent years I have travelled from Denmark to
the Black Sea region on several occasions. Mostly, my trips to the area have
been concerned with material studies of burial data on display in museums
or topographical ‘micro‑surveys’ of cemetery areas, firstly in connection with
my Masters thesis and subsequently in relation to my PhD dissertation, and
thus the present project. On other occasions my time has been spent in the
dusty storerooms of Olbia looking through endless boxes of pottery for the
collaborative project between the Black Sea Centre at Aarhus University and
the Academy of Sciences in Kiev. On these trips I have encountered a small
fraction of life in the Black Sea region, both in the form which it takes today
and as I imagine it to have been in Antiquity. The practical experiences and
the mental challenges which I have been faced with during this period have,
in various ways, influenced the manner in which I approach and perceive new
cultural areas and the people who inhabit them. In these encounters with ‘new
lands’ I have been confronted with many important questions central to the
subject of the ‘meeting of cultures’ and the formation of identities – mainly
from an ancient perspective, but also in relation to my own modern‑day life.
It has been a true privilege to become immersed in these matters and to work
with them under such advantageous conditions and in such a rewarding
working environment as that provided by the Black Sea Centre.
There are many people to thank for their support, endless patience, com‑
ments, critique and encouragements – amongst them my supervisors, Annette
Rathje, Jens Krasilnikoff and Catherine Morgan, and all my colleagues at the
Black Sea Centre, who have always been willing to share information and ideas
as well as to lend a helping hand and a listening ear. Helle Horsnæs at the
National Museum, Copenhagen has provided valuable and to‑the‑point com‑
ments and critique of the chapter on southern Italy; George Hinge, University
of Aarhus, has given his detailed, expert opinions on the epigraphic material;
and Patric Kreuz, University of Bochum, has been very kind and helpful in
answering my many questions concerning Black Sea funerary architecture and
sculpture. Many more people have been involved in discussions of the work
and they are mentioned and thanked in the text accordingly. Elena Stolba and
Line Bjerg have done a fantastic job with the bibliography, for which I own
them my deepest thanks. Gina Coulthard has expertly and patiently edited,
corrected, and commented the final version of the manuscript.8 Cultural interactions on the Pontic Shores
Last but not least, I owe immense thanks to my friends and family who
have been a never‑failing support to me during this long process – thank you
all for listening, supporting me and still being there after all I have put you
through. Finally, my husband Tom deserves a special mention as he is always
there beside me with inexhaustible resources of unconditional support, care
and encouragement – carissimo mio!Chapter 1 Introduction
1.1 Presentation of the study
The study Cultural Interactions and Social Strategies on the Pontic Shores. Burial
Customs in the Northern Black Sea Area c. 550‑270 BC was initiated immediately
after my Masters graduation in Greek archaeology. Prior to my employment
at the Danish National Research Foundation’s Centre for Black Sea Studies,
I had worked on similar themes in my Masters thesis, specifically Archaic
burial customs from Olbia and Taranto (Petersen 2003). The conclusions of
this work led me to seek further understanding of the mortuary evidence
from the Black Sea region and to elaborate on – as well as to rethink – some
of the main questions and problems.
The present volume has as its point of departure the burial data from four
coastal localities in the northern region of the Black Sea. Through detailed
analyses, the mortuary practices are sought, decoded and interpreted within
a framework which is mainly based on concepts of cultural interaction rather
than cu