Francafilla Excavation Flashcards
What was the original, colonial perspective on the spread of Greek culture from Sybaris into the countryside, after it had been founded by the Greeks in 720 BCE? What role was assigned to Francavilla in this colonization process?
Colonial thinking = Hellenization, violent quick take over (burned everything down and made everyone Greek).
Role of Francavilla = one of the regional centers that helped spread Greek culture.
Why is this approach wrong and how has the perspective on this process changed in recent scholarship?
Scholars now look more at Greek colonization as a gradual process, therefore scholars approach the material more from a local perspective.
Used to look from bottom down (), now look from top up.
Which two sites have been investigated in Francavilla?
Macchiabate (cemetery) and the Timpone della Motta
Tell something about the excavation history of these two sites. Mention the people who dug there and when.
Macchiabate 1963-1969, the area was excavated by Paola Zancani-Montuoro, where she found 200 tombs.
Timpone della Motta 1963-1969, excavated by Maria Stoop and Marianne Kleibrink, excavated three buildings and Iron Age huts. Marianne Kleibrink came back and continued excavated.
In 1991, University of Groningen excavated on different levels of hills.
- Most important discovery = sacred buildings were temples that became temple of Athena in 6th century BCE.
In the necropolis (Macchiabate), the Italian excavator distinguished four phases. What was her conclusion based on this chronology?
There was a model of destruction and takeover by Greeks in second half of 7th century.
In which two ways has this interpretation been proven wrong by the Dutch excavator who reviewed the archaeological remains in the 1990’s?
- No Destruction of graves, locals respected the Greek graves of those before them.
- Found 6th century tomb below a 7th century tomb (which doesn’t make sense in terms of the law of super position). Locals put a piece of Greek pottery near the 6th century tomb to show respect (they could drink in the afterlife). - Shift from indigenous grave goods to Greek drinking bowls/wine jars in 7th century.
- POTTERY IS NOT PEOPLE!!! Greek pottery tells us something about the elite, not necessarily that a bunch of Greeks came over.
- Could rather be seen as local elites interacting with Greek people.
Name 3 of the 4 conclusions of this excavator’s study.
There were many continuities between 770 and 540 BCE (think of the broches).
In 7th century, gifts began to decrease, potentially under influence of Greek settlers while still being something other than a violent takeover.
Burial hill was used in 8th century for aristocratic families. Showed their status in graves (especially womans) with bronze fibulae’s, weapons, pottery, etc.
What happened to the votive deposit that was discovered in the 1960’s on the foot hill (Timpone della Motta) and had to be left when the project was suddenly ended?
The votive deposit was robbed in the 1972-3 by illegal diggers, artifacts were dispersed on the black market and sold In Switzerland.
What have the Dutch excavations of the 1990’s revealed about the so-called temple of Athena or Athenaion?
The temple of Athena had earlier indigenous predecessors which shows continuity rather than a break.
What were the finds in the newly excavated building V on the acropolis? And what do these finds say about the cult that was practiced there?
Found a hut with an altar dating back to first half of 8th century, along with votive offerings of terracotta woman statues, and loom weights.
Suggests that the cult was comprised of woman and that they practiced weaving.
What are the conclusions of the Dutch excavations on the foothill in the 1990’s? Name 3 of the 4.
There was a woman-centered weaving cult from the 8th century into the 6th century.
The cult attained a Greek face in 7th and 6th century.
In 6th century, hill was thoroughly Hellenized.
Also mention 3 of the 4 general results the excavations at Francavilla Marittima have given for the Greek colonization of Italy.
The idea that Greeks came over and took over Francavilla all of a sudden at the end of the 7th century is false, process was more gradual and involved interaction between indigenous population and the Greeks during the 7th century.
The development can be followed easier in the elite graves on the Macchiabate and in the temples of the Timpone della Motta in the second half of the 7th century, probably to indicate status.
The graves also show continuities and the weaving goddess worshipped in the temples were only later identified with Athena.
