Micromorphological contributions to the study of ritual behavior at the ash altar to Zeus on Mt. Lykaion, Greece

Mentzer, Susan M.; Romano, David; Voyatzis, Mary E.

doi:10.1007/s12520-014-0219-y

Cited by 15 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…In this particular case, ritualistic burning of large quantities of bone and wood, as well as prepared mud surfaces with occasional repairing and maintenance were observed. Our results are in accord with other data that utilized integrated approaches to the study of anthropogenic deposits, such as prepared lime floors (Karkanas, ; Karkanas & Efstratiou, ), midden maintenance and preparation (Shillito and Matthews, ; Shillito, ; Shillito et al, ), and ritualistic altar burning activities (Mentzer, Romano, & Voyatzis, ).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Elemental mapping of micromorphological block samples using portable X‐ray fluorescence spectrometry (pXRF): Integrating a geochemical line of evidence

Holcomb

Karkanas

2019

Geoarchaeology

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Archaeological soil and sediment micromorphology represent the most efficient way to obtain microcontextual information at archaeological sites. Because of the generally qualitative (descriptive) nature of micromorphology, one difficulty with the method is establishing vertical and lateral continuity of the observed layers or features. Through an Exploratory Spatial Data Analysis approach, we demonstrate that portable X‐ray fluorescence (pXRF) elemental mapping of resin‐impregnated micromorphological block samples provides a complementary geoarchaeological approach for gathering valuable chemical information at the mesoscale. Specifically, we integrate these data with micromorphological analyses to aid our interpretation of the formation of a complex Archaic (seventh century) ritual ash midden (eschara) from the site of Kalapodi, in Greece. We demonstrate that pXRF elemental mapping provides a rapid and cost‐effective approach to generate a geochemical line of evidence during micromorphological analyses, and can help tease apart and interpret complex formation processes, such as those found in anthropogenic deposits.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Elemental mapping of micromorphological block samples using portable X‐ray fluorescence spectrometry (pXRF): Integrating a geochemical line of evidence

Holcomb

Karkanas

2019

Geoarchaeology

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“…This interpretation remains controversial, and it is commendable that the authors acknowledge disagreement within the research team on the significance of the geological and fossil evidence. Mentzer et al (2017) similarly use micromorphology and pedology to reconstruct the life history of a Greek archeological feature hypothesized as an altar. In their case, they are able to parse micromorphological traces of natural and cultural formation processes to infer the sets of human behaviors involved in the use of the altar, as well as how the surrounding cultural soilscape has been shaped by anthropogenic alterations even as they have been variably preserved by pedogenic activity.…”

Section: Contributions To This Special Issuementioning

confidence: 99%

Geoarchaeology of ritual behavior and sacred places: an introduction

Roos

Wells

2017

Archaeol Anthropol Sci

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“…Archaeological layers can be analysed micromorphologically in order to reconstruct formation processes and (ritual) activities. This has proven to be extremely fruitful in various contexts and has been used to research some antique cults (Devos and Paridaens 2019;Koch et al 2018;Mentzer et al 2015;Schucany et al 2011). Yet, it has hardly been applied to the study of Mithraism.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mithraism under the microscope: new revelations about rituals through micromorphology, histotaphonomy and zooarchaeology

Russo

Brönnimann

Deschler-Erb

et al. 2022

Archaeol Anthropol Sci

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This paper is the first to use an innovative multi-proxy approach to obtain insights into hitherto unknown Mithraic cult practices. Using soil micromorphology, zooarchaeology and histotaphonomy, we investigated two mithraea (Biesheim FR, Kempraten CH) and one cult cave (Zillis CH). This was also the first study to include micromorphological and histotaphonomic approaches within the context of Mithraic research. The systematic evaluation of thermal alteration and bioerosion (in particular bacterial attack) on the animal bones, in combination with zooarchaeological results, allows a differentiation between various (cult) practices involving animals. Thanks to the micromorphological investigations, it was possible to demonstrate that repeatedly spreading combustion residues and renewing the floor were important parts of the cult practices of Mithraism. Our results suggest that a cult practice consisting of several stages was carried out on all three sites. Our study highlights that multiple floor constructions as well as the related sediments and (micro-) artefacts of cultic indoor features are important sources of information.

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Micromorphological contributions to the study of ritual behavior at the ash altar to Zeus on Mt. Lykaion, Greece

Cited by 15 publications

References 51 publications

Elemental mapping of micromorphological block samples using portable X‐ray fluorescence spectrometry (pXRF): Integrating a geochemical line of evidence

Elemental mapping of micromorphological block samples using portable X‐ray fluorescence spectrometry (pXRF): Integrating a geochemical line of evidence

Geoarchaeology of ritual behavior and sacred places: an introduction

Mithraism under the microscope: new revelations about rituals through micromorphology, histotaphonomy and zooarchaeology

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