The theories about First Century BC visitors to the ‘Holy Island’, which lies just off the coast of Paphos, emerged after a four week dig by 17 archaeologists from New York University, the communications and works ministry and the department of antiquities.
In early Byzantine times, a Christian basilica was built atop Geronisos, a partner to the three basilicas that sit just opposite on the mainland at Ayios Georgios tis Peyeias.
Excavations have established that the island may have been regarded as a holy - or at least symbolically charged pilgrimage site – ever since the prehistoric period, and the findings give a fascinating insight into the pilgrims’ daily life.
Among the findings were stone tools, a large jar, or pithos, a female figurine, and a bead that was deliberately placed in a pit with ash during the early Chalcolithic period, around 3,800 B.C.
The excavation report said: “It is possible that the pithoi were used to collect rainwater from the roof of a building that rose from these foundations, as water was very scarce on this island that had no springs or wells.”
According to chief excavator, Professor Joan Breton Connelly, findings from around the first century B.C. suggest families may have brought their young sons out to Geronisos for special rites of maturation.
A circular platform unearthed in recent seasons may represent a dance floor, used for boys’ choral dancing - an integral part of education in Greek antiquity.
Recovered Ostraka (inscribed pot shards) also show the writing exercises of children learning their Greek letters, suggesting that a school for boys may have been part of the sanctuary operations.
Many of these items were found near the dining and sleeping rooms of the pilgrimage facilities’ domestic quarters, which were a focal area for this year’s digs.
The report said: “There was extensive robbing of Hellenistic ashlar blocks from Geronisos during the early Byzantine period, no doubt for the building of the three great Christian basilicas on the mainland at Ayios Georgios.”
“Much of this season’s work focused on the careful digging and analysis of robbing trenches and the sorting out of phases for the Hellenistic construction and the Byzantine robbing of walls.”
Architect Richard Anderson continued his massive work of preparing a 3-D digital survey of all architectural remains on Geronisos, using a total station laser theodolite.
Wind and sea erosion of the cliff edges of Geronisos makes survey and mapping of the island’s remains all the more urgent.
Mariusz Burdajewicz of the Warsaw Museum undertook the drawing of all small stone architectural members recovered from Geronisos, as part of the ongoing efforts to document the full architectural footprint of the island.
Author: Patrick Dewhurst | Source: Cyprus Mail [July 08, 2011]