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A footnote on the archaeology of power: animal bones from a Mycenaean chamber tomb at Galatas, NE Peloponnese
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 27 September 2013
Abstract
The zooarchaeological remains from a Mycenaean chamber tomb (LH II B–IIIc early) at Apatheia, Galatas, NE Peloponnese, are analysed and discussed. The bones offer evidence for mortuary dining ritual and for the ritual deposition of dog skeletons. The latter practice in Mycenaean burials is discussed and, contrary to previous interpretation, is connected to the social and ideological role of hunting in Mycenaean society.
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1 Many thanks are due to Mrs Eleni Konsolaki for inviting me to study the animal bones from her excavations and for providing all the necessary information as well the photographs in Plate 35 a and b; also for her comments on an earlier draft of this paper. Many thanks also to Paul Halstead for comments and to Graeme Barker and Annie Grant, who in their capacity as referees made many useful suggestions. Conventional rules of responsibility apply, Fig. I was redrawn by D. Schofield from an original by N. Kalliotzis of the 2nd Ephoreia, and Fig. 2 was done by Vangelio Kiriatzi. The identification and recording of animal bones were undertaken while I was Faunal Research Fellow at the Wiener Laboratory of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens.
Special abbreviations:
Bp = proximal breadth
Bd = distal breadth
GL = greatest length
GLP = greatest length of the glenoid process
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