newspaper: [Antiquities_Science] ARTIFACT: Ancient toy or whistle found (Cyprus)

Ancient toy or whistle found at Pyrgos

http://www.cyprusweekly.com.cy/default.aspx?LocalNewsID=437

Demetra Molyva Cyprus Weekly 25 February 2008

"A SMALL masterpiece of coroplastic Early Bronze Age Cyprus (3500- 2000 BC), believed to
be a water whistle or a toy, was found during the excavations at Pyrgos/Mavrorachi, in
Limassol and restored by an Italian archaeological mission led by Maria Rosaria Belgiorno.
"This is an askos, representing a load of two panniers, with its mane knotted in five bobs
and a statuette of a naked child riding in the middle of the shoulder," Belgiorno said.
Donkeys loaded with baskets of fruit and vegetables are one of the most common images
of the Mediterranean, she explained.
"This is a familiar subject especially on the islands, from the first appearance and
domestication of small horses and donkeys. Both have played a very important role in the
evolution of agriculture and culture in prehistory," she said, noting that what is more rare
is the child riding on the back of the donkey.
Extraordinary
The iconography of a quadruped with panniers on the back is known in Early-Middle
Bronze Age Cyprus but it is rare to find one bearing a child.
One example is a figurine on the famous scenic vase of making wine, from a tomb (No.47)
of Pyrgos, although the askos from Pyrgos/Mavrorachi cannot be compared in terms of
style, precision and quality.
"What is extraordinary is that this vase was found in a settlement and not a tomb,"
Belgiorno said.
She explained that the askos has two openings, one in front corresponding to the mouth
of the equine and a small cylindrical spout on the back, next to the handle.
"Considering the small size of these openings, it is possible that the askos was a water
whistle of a toy and not a special container for some substance," Belgiorno told The
Cyprus Weekly.
According to Belgiorno, the high level of the industrial community of Pyrgos/Mavrorachi is
well documented by the advanced industrial technologies found in the settlement.
Funerary
"And the quality of the pottery found at Pyrgos has no comparison with ceramics from
other Early-Middle Bronze age settlements, like Marki and Alambra," she explained.
The most famous coroplastic vases and models of the Early-Middle Bronze Age from
tombs in Cyprus lead to the conclusion that these special pots were made only for
funerary purposes, she added.
"But Pyrgos findings are proof that beautiful objects were part of everyday life in Early
Bronze Age Cyprus. Many vessels found in fragments beneath the ruins of the building
destroyed by the earthquake of 1850 BC, have no comparison with the precious ceramics
from the contemporary tombs of the site," she said.
Last year, the Italian archaeological mission of Pyrgos/Mavrorachi, directed by Belgiorno,
carried out its ninth season of excavations at the Early Bronze Age industrial site of
Pyrgos/Mavrorachi, under the auspices of the Antiquities Department and the Italian
Foreign Minister.
The work of the mission focused on the western wing of a building destroyed by an
earthquake around 1850 BC, in order to locate the origin of a large room positioned on
the western side of an olive press.
Pebbles
A pebble stone entrance to the room from the south has been unearthed.
And in addition to the western side of the room, the excavations uncovered an extension
of the industrial complex, which like most of the rooms of the palace, was intended for
metallurgical activities.
"The evidence found in this area, which has produced a large quantity of Early Bronze Age
pottery, stone tools and copper slag, suggests a probable industrial copper complex at the
beginning of the Early Bronze Age, full of its contents," Belgiorno said.
Nearby, she added, there was a heavy pestle of andesite, ready for crushing of minerals
was found along with a large number of crucibles and small bronze pieces.
Belgiorno said a pithos jar for olive oil, positioned 2m away from the furnace, confirms the
use of olive oil as fuel for metallurgy at Pyrgos.
Objective
Another objective of the mission was to explore the eastern area of the site, along the
bank of a small river that flows on the eastern side of the building.
"Excavations have revealed that there is evidence of metallurgical activities, even on this
side," Belgiorno said,
Although the subsequent activities of running water destroyed most of the structures, an
unexpected finding was a workplace for working copper, equipped with a bench and large
basin.
"Both structures were built with stone blocks and stones. Three ovens, a large pithos for
olive oil, 18 vases, stone tools and hammers, bronze objects and a clay mould for the axes
show the metallurgical activities of the place, " she said.
She explained, that in particular, the fragmented clay mould for the head axe, when
looking at its size and shape is very similar to that of the third millennium found at
Goltepe in Anatolia.
"This represents a special metallurgical interconnection between the Middle East and
Cyprus, during the Early Bronze Age, " she said, noting that the mould preserved by its
half, differs from the other two axe moulds found at Pyrgos/Mavrorachi in 2005.
"Even if its length is very close to that of 2005, the thickness of this latest mould is half of
those of 2005. Its shape and type are almost the same as only two intact clay moulds of
the third millennium BC found at Goltepe Tepe and Kvatskehelebi in Anatolia," she said."