A group of 27 Final Neolithic figurines of the Attica-Kephala Group (4000–3800 BC) were discovered at Kolonna on Aegina in the Saronic Gulf. Some of them have analogies in the Aegean and the Balkans and point to an exchange network which distributed objects of ritual meaning. Details of their production and placement in the bowl indicate that they were part of a ritual act.

In 1994, excavations conducted by Florens Felten under the auspices of the University of Salzburg at the well-known harbour site of Kolonna on Aegina produced a most interesting context of 27 Final Neolithic figurines of the Attica-Kephala Group (4000–3800 BC). Some of them have analogies in the Aegean and the Balkans and point to an exchange network which distributed objects of ritual meaning. Others are characterized by their local character, among them male as well as asexual figurines with pointed removable caps indicating a special function and status of the wearer.

A pit context under the floor of a Final Neolithic house contained 18 intentionally deposited figurines, six entire and six fragmented figurines from the upper part of the pit, and six entire figurines which were deposited in miniature bowls in the lower part of the pit. Two figurines were placed into the bowls separately and four in pairs. The pairs consisted of figurines of the same type but of different size so that we can argue that they were connected by social ties. Details of their production as well as their adhering in the bowls make us argue that they were part of a ritual act which included production and arrangement of the figurines and the bowls.

Publications

  • E. Alram-Stern, Making, arranging, and depositing figurines. The house model of Platia Magoula Zarkou and the pit deposit of Aegina.Kolonna. In: S. Nanoglou – F. Mavridis (eds.), Figurine-making in the Neolithic Aegean (Sidestone Press, Leiden 2024) 55-68.
  • E. Alram-Stern, Ritual and Interaction during the Final Neolithic period: The example of Aegina-Kolonna. In: A. Sarris et al. (Hrsg.), Communities, Landscapes and Interaction in Neolithic Greece. Proceedings of the International Conference, Rethymno, 29-30 May 2015, Ann Arbor 2017, 399–414.
  • E. Alram-Stern, Die chalkolithischen Statuetten von Ägina-Kolonna, Jahreshefte des Österreichischen Archäologischen Instituts 85, 2016, 7–56.
  • E. Alram-Stern, Men with Caps. Chalcolithic Figurines from Aegina-Kolonna and their Ritual Use. In: E. Alram-Stern,  F. Blakolmer, S. Deger-Jalkotzy,  R. Laffineur,  J. Weilhartner (Hrsg.), Metaphysis: Ritual, Myth and Symbolism, Proceedings of the 15th International Aegean Conference, Institute for Oriental and European Archaeology, Austrian Academy of Sciences and Institute of Classical Archaeology, University of Vienna, 22–25 April, 2014, Aegaeum 39, Leuven – Liège 2016, 15–20.
  • F. Felten, S. Hiller, Ausgrabungen in der vorgeschichtlichen Innenstadt von Ägina-Kolonna (Alt-Ägina), Jahreshefte des Österreichischen Archäologischen Instituts 65, 1996, 67. 

Principal investigator

Excavations of the University Salzburg

Head: Florens Felten