The Bioarchaeology of the Phaleron Cemetery, Archaic Greece: Current Research and Insights

This collection contains the abstracts of the papers presented in the session entitled "The Bioarchaeology of the Phaleron Cemetery, Archaic Greece: Current Research and Insights" at the 89th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

The Phaleron Bioarchaeological Project explores the complex lifeways of Archaic Greece during a particularly volatile period, which culminated in the formation of Athens as a polis and a complex democracy. One of the largest known cemeteries of ancient Greece, the Phaleron cemetery was in use from the eighth to fourth century BCE and was situated outside the boundaries and walls of Athens. It was located approximately 4 km southwest of the Acropolis near the port of Faliro, which served Athens during this period. Between 2012 and 2017, approximately 2,000 burials were excavated by Dr. Stella Chryssoulaki of the Ephorate of Antiquities of West Attica, Piraeus, and Islands. Most of these burials were simple pit burials, but other common forms include cists, jars, and cremations. This cemetery is also known for the interment of shackled, executed individuals in graves of varied size. As the individuals from Phaleron cemetery are the first to be systematically studied from the Archaic period, this project has the unique opportunity to not only explore the lived experiences of this non-elite population but also consider the impact of fluctuating socioeconomic, political, and cultural conditions during the creation and implementation of democracy and the rise of classical Athens.