Recent developments in Cyrene's chora south of the Wadi bel Gadir

Abstract

Recent work in the Wadi bel Gadir in the southern chora region of Cyrene, in particular the discovery of two temple precincts by the Italian Mission (Missione Archeologica a Cirene della Università degli Studi di Urbino) as well as an intensive topographic survey by the newly reconstituted University of Pennsylvania Expedition (now the Cyrenaica Archaeological Project) is providing important information about urban development to the west and southwest of the city of Cyrene. This paper offers an overview of the previous work in the area and some thoughts on the potential implications of the recent discoveries by the Italian Mission led by Professor Mario Luni and the Cyrenaican Archaeological Project (CAP) directed by Professor Susan Kane.

From looted tombs to ancient society: a survey of the Southern Necropolis of Cyrene

“…The extraurban Sanctuary of Demeter linked the northern half of the Southern Necropolis with the southern gates of the city (Figs 1, 3), lying between the important extraurban road to Balagrae and the steep Wadi bel Ghadir. The area is occupied by an enormous public sanctuary, including numerous structures and has been investigated by a number of research missions (most recently Luni 2006;Kane and White 2007): the famous 'sanctuary' structure, a theatre, an Archaic temple (Stucchi 1975, 260), two possibly Imperial 'temene' (Stucchi 1975, 261), 2 and a series of Classical votive niches quite similar to those in Ain Hofra (Cassels 1955, 35, S53-S54). Inside this sacred area various rock-cut chambers, located between the theatre and the 'sanctuary', were excavated by Donald White (1984); however these rooms were probably more sacred spaces than tombs.…”