Geometric/Archaic Pottery from the Artemis Sanctuary, Lousoi

This research project is the conclusion of over 100 years of research by Austrian archaeologist on the earliest phases of the sanctuary of Artemis Hemera in Lousoi in northwestern Arcadia. The focus of the research are ceramic vessels discovered in deposit of the late Geometric and Archaic periods (8th early 5th century BC) that was sealed and untouched for over 2000 years. The vessels were used during ritual meals following animal sacrifices but also functioned as votive offerings to the goddess. In addition to the bones of sacrificed animals, tools, and the other votive offerings (terracotta figurines, jewellery made of metal, bone, ivory, and amber), the ceramics make up the largest group of archaeological evidence. The functional analysis of these artefacts is the basis for the reconstruction of rituals and processes in the cult. This is the most important source for the recreation of early Greek cult practices for which there are only very few written sources. The comparison of the finds from the extraurban sanctuary of Artemis with the contemporaneous finds from the urban centre of Lousoi permits direct conclusions about sacred and secular life in the early Greek period. In addition to the chronological and functional analysis of the ceramic finds, another focus of the project is placed on the archaeometric analyses which include modern research methods, such as petrography and X-ray fluorescence. In collaboration with other archaeometric projects in the neighbouring regions in the Peloponnese and the Gulf of Corinth it will be possible to identify imports. As a result we will be able to reconstruct the influence of the sanctuary as well as define its position within a network of regional and supraregional contacts. On a supraregional level the profile of the cult of Artemis in Lousoi will be compared with that in other sanctuaries of the same goddess. In the early Greek period cult and religion were shaped by local and regional characteristics. These will be identified based on a comparison of the archaeological evidence and contrasted with the elements that bear witness of a panhellenic assimilation as exhibited for the first time by the poets Homer and Hesiod. Following the completion of the project, the sanctuary of Artemis in Lousoi will be the only cult site of the Geometric and Archaic period in northwestern Arcadia that has been fully published, including the documentation of the entire spectrum of finds and a contextual, historical, and cultural analysis. Therefore, this project represents a quintessential contribution to the archaeology of the Peloponnese.

This project explored two important aspects of an early Greek sanctuary: cult practices and the network of the cult community. Since only few written sources exist, the archaeological finds and features formed the basis for answering these questions. The focus was on the clay vessels: these can be examined using various methods and, as the largest group of finds in terms of numbers, allow statistically sound conclusions to be drawn. The sanctuary of Artemis Hemera at Lousoi is located in northern Arcadia, a remote mountainous region of Greece that has been little studied. This project now presents for the first time an early sanctuary of this region with all its archaeological finds and features in its entirety. Typo-chronological studies have shown that the cult began in the early 9th century BC - much earlier than previously assumed. By means of scientific ceramic analyses, the origin of the clay vessels was investigated in order to obtain indications of how strongly and how widely the sanctuary was interconnected. By combining several archaeometric methods, the production of local potters from Lousoi could be proven for the first time. The most important external connections were with Achaia, the neighbouring coastal region to the north. Through these connections, the remote Artemis sanctuary gained supra-regional significance early on: the Artemis Hemera of Lousoi was chosen as the patron goddess by the migrants who founded the Greek city of Metapontum in southern Italy. With the help of scientific analyses, ceramic vessels from the settlers` region of origin have now been found in a settlement near Metapontum - material evidence of the connection between the two regions in the Mediterranean. The shapes of the pottery vessels provide information about the activities in the sanctuary. Drinking vessels predominate. This suggests that communal drinking as part of the sacrificial celebrations for the goddess was an important element of the cult. On the other hand, there is hardly any evidence of the preparation and consumption of food, which is otherwise typical of early Greek cults: Cooking pots and bones of sacrificial animals are largely absent. Among the votive offerings that were consecrated to the goddess to express supplication and thanks, two groups stand out: on the one hand, small, box-shaped containers whose lids, however, cannot be removed - they were dedicated symbolically, without contents. On the other hand, there are numerous miniature vessels in which symbolic gifts could be offered, e.g. some small fruits, nuts or some grain. These aspects distinguish the Artemis sanctuary of Lousoi from most sanctuaries of this goddess in other parts of the Greek world. The Artemis sanctuary in remote Lousoi thus shows a number of peculiarities, but was definitely networked within the Mediterranean world.