:Towards A Social Bioarchaeology of the Mycenaean Period: A Biocultural Analysis of Human Remains from the Voudeni Cemetery, Achaea, Greece

Bioarchaeological insights into the Late Helladic communities of South Kynouria, Peloponnese: The case of the LH IIIA2‐IIIB2 burial cluster of Socha

“…Although the exact link between individuals grouped together at death is not straightforward to access, these communal tombs were a “statement about family identity” (Cavanagh, 2008). Contrary to the large chamber and tholos Mycenaean tombs (Cavanagh, 2008; Moutafi, 2021), at Socha we do not find comparable collective assemblages: there, the tombs have been used for far fewer individuals (even when compared to the built chamber tombs of Vaskina and Palaichori in South Kynouria that held more than 20 individuals), most likely because of their smaller size. In addition, two of the six tombs at Socha held single inhumations.…”

“…The ages range from children to old individuals (Table 2). Despite the small sample size, the representation of subadults at Socha (15.8%) is among the lowest observed for a Mycenaean cemetery where subadults were very often absent or under‐represented, suggesting a low level of inclusion and a different attitude displayed to subadults (Moutafi, 2021). We also notice the absence of perinates, infants and young children, also frequently observed for other sites as well.…”

“…We also notice the absence of perinates, infants and young children, also frequently observed for other sites as well. This phenomenon has been related to some extent to cultural practices such as the adoption of alternative forms or burial places for certain age categories; it is not just the result of preservation bias (Jones, 2018a; Moutafi, 2021) (Table S1). A tendency for a greater inclusion of subadults (although still under‐represented) is seen for cemeteries in peripheral areas (e.g., Magnesia and Phokis) in Central Greece or even more remote ones to the North (Table S1): this pattern probably implies that a different attitude toward subadult deaths existed outside central areas.…”

“…Collective burials were the norm even in simpler tombs and the re‐use of tombs and secondary treatment of the deceased was a common practice too. Variations in the mortuary treatment across core regions (Jones, 2018a, 2018b; Moutafi, 2021) existed though. These have been interpreted as reflecting various divisions existing by age, gender, status and kin groups, as well as differences of practice between central and more remote areas.…”