Armenoi (archaeological site)

Armenoi is the archaeological site of an ancient Minoan cemetery on the north coast of Crete, roughly 8 kilometres (5 mi) south of the modern town of Rethymnon and close to the Minoan peak sanctuary at Vrysinas. It dates primarily to the Late Minoan II/IIIA/B period (c. 1470-1200 BC) though a single tholos type grave dates back to Late Minoan IB period (c. 1625–1470 BC). A single stirrup jar, found in a tomb, with the Linear B inscription "wi-na-jo" suggests there was some Mycenae contact in the later period of occupation.^[1]

Armenoi

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Map of Minoan Crete
Location	Rethymno, Crete, Greece
Coordinates	35°19′05.05″N 24°27′48.65″E
Type	Minoan cemetery
History
Cultures	Minoan
Site notes
Excavation dates	1969-present
Archaeologists	Yiannis Tzedakis
Public access	Yes

Archaeology

Larnax from the site, Archaeological Museum of Chania

The entrance to the site.

The site covers an area of about 35 acres. It is considered the most intact Minoan cemetery excavated. Only four of the tombs had been looted at the end of the Minoan period. Minor damage occurred during construction of a fortification by the German Army in WWII and by badgers using some of the tombs as dens.^[2][3] Armeni has been under excavation since 1969 by Dr. Yiannis Tzedakis. 232 chamber tombs and one tholos tomb have been found. All chamber tombs date to the Late Minoan II/III period and the tholos tomb to the Late Minoan IB period.^[4][5]

Tombs

The cemetery was planned, with paths and leveled areas. The tombs fall into three zones, A, B, and C. There are a few unfinished tombs where the ground proved too hard, which allows insight into the construction process. One tomb, the oldest, is of tholos construction with corbelled stones while the rest are chamber tombs. Chamber tombs consisted of a dromos (entrance way) which was dug first, and a chamber. The dromos had either steps or a ramp and was typically between 1.5 meters and 2.5 meters in width and between 3.5 meters and 7 meters in length (one exemplar is 16 meters long). The tombs appear to have been used as family burial site with new remains added over time (17 skeletons were found in one tomb). Chamber tombs were oriented to the east with dromos angle ranging from 52.5 degrees to 133 degrees, toward the Minoan peak sanctuary at Vrysinas.^[6] Some of the tombs contain "benches, pillars, conches, or crypts, which sometimes contained votives or traces of bones, in the floor or the walls of the dromo".^[7] Some of the tombs had larnakes (small clay coffins) usually containing a single skelton. A few of the larnakes have polychrome painting, one with a hunting scene with 4 dogs, 2 stags, and an agrimi (Cretan wild goat) and others with animals (octopus, deer and birds), geometric designs, or symbols (such as Horns of Consecration).^[7][8]

Archaeological Museum of Rethymno 25 - Late Minoan sealstones from Armenoi cemetery

Large amount of pottery were found in the tombs, primarily jugs, pyxides, kraters, alabastra, amphorae, stamnoi, stirrup jars, and incense burners. The Minoan chronology is based on pottery so tombs could be closely dated. Kylixs and cups were found to contain the residue of "greek grog", an alcoholic beverage made from grains, honey, herbs, fruits, and occasionally even grape wine leading to suggestions they were used as part of funerary ritual.^[9] Other tomb finds included a boars tusk helmet. spindle whorls, beads, clay idols, bone pins, and an ivory combs thought to have been an import from Egypt or Syria. A number of bronze grave goods were recovered including rings, daggers, spearheads swords, tools, and vases. A few gold beads and silver rings were also found.^[7]

A number of soft stone lentoid Minoan seal-stones, of a style usually called Cretan Popular Group, were found at the site as well as a boars tusk helmet. A few cylinder seals were also found. Other seals were made using rock crystal, serpentine, sardium, faience, or glass paste.^[10] A single stirrup jar, found in a tomb, with the Linear B inscription "wi-na-jo" suggests there was some Mycenae contact in the later period of occupation. The same inscription was found on a stirrup jar excavated at Dendra. The same scribe wrote on a stirrup jar found at Knossos.^[1][11] A stone amulet was found in a tholos grave from the Linear Minoan IB period inscribed with a combination of two Linear A ideograms.^[2]

Human remains

The largest tomb.

Over 1000 individuals (200 were articulated primary burials and 800 were secondary co-mingled burials) have been recovered from the tombs with more males than females (143 males to 107 females).^[5] Average age at death is estimated to have been 30-35 years.^[11] An osteoarchaeological study of some of the remains found 250 adult and 106 child skeletons.^[7] The isotope composition and genetics of some of the skeletons has been analysed indicating that four of the buried did not come from the local area.^[12][13] DNA analysis of several samples (Tomb 230, tooth) found the mtDNA haplogroup of H59, which is common in the area.^[1] Based on the characteristic lesions on the vertebrae 15 possible cases of TB and two possible cases of brucellosis were noted on the skeletons.^[14] Facial reconstructions were created for two individuals (Tomb 132).^[15]

"one individual seems to have met a very violent death. The deceased was about twenty-five years old, fairly tall and robust. On several parts of the body (arm, thigh and shins), there are some ten cut marks which must have been caused by blows from a sharp, heavy instrument: probably an axe. His right hand was completely severed at the middle of the forearm. It has been suggested that his premature and violent death was the result of a duel or murder, although execution or even torture cannot be excluded"^[16]

Town

Given the numerous tombs and wealth of grave goods, the necropolis appears to have served a large and prosperous nearby settlement. The excavators have proposed that this town was located at the modern village of Kastellos, where archaeological surveys and trial excavations have found evidence of LM III occupation.^[4][5]

Tourism

The site is open to tourists, including entrance into several of the main rock-cut tombs. Automatic lighting has been installed. There is an entrance fee of €3. Artifacts from the site can be found at the Archaeological Museum of Chania and the Rethymno Museum^[17]

See also

• Minoan pottery
• Minoan chronology
• Minoan art
• Minoan religion
• Minoan eruption