Passage to the Underworld: Diros Project Discoveries
November 2, 2012 | by Elizabeth Christian
Archaeologist William A. Parkinson to present new finds from extensive ritual site in Southern Greece at the upcoming Annual Meeting.
Ongoing excavations at Alepotrypa Cave by William A. Parkinson and Michael L. Galaty, co-directors of the Diros Project, alongside their Greek colleauges, have revealed an extensive Neolithic ritual site and surrounding settlement. Over 160 burials have been uncovered inside the cave, surrounded by remnants of painted funeral vases and covered in thick layers of ash, the result of blazing fires lit within the cave’s massive chamber. The cave’s entrance collapsed nearly 5,000 years ago, effectively sealing the burials – and the cave’s living occupants – inside. Dr. Parkinson and his colleagues will be presenting their most current research from the Diros Project at the AIA’s Annual Meeting on Saturday, January 5th, in section 6D, Mani: The Diros Project and Alepotrypa Cave.
To read more on Alepotrypa Cave, check out WBEZ’s article here.
Join us at the Annual Meeting!
The history of Egypt extends far beyond the ancient Pharaohs and their pyramids and tombs: cities like Alexandria and Luxor have seen the rise and fall of many empires. New cultures, languages, and religions arrive, thrive, and then disappear. In a place that has endured such change, it is difficult to imagine that anything can remain constant. But as new evidence may prove, the ancient world is not as far in the past as you might think.
This year’s Presidential Plenary Session will feature a panel of archaeologists tackling the complex issues in defining, understanding, and interpreting evidence while studying ancient urban centers. The talk will draw on research that spans across the globe, from Southeast Asia to North America, and will explore a multitude of cultural, economic, and social aspects of urban development.
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