Profile

Tina McGeorge has worked as a researcher and consultant on the excavation, rescue, and museum presentation of human remains from archaeological sites in Europe, mainly in Greece, but also in the Near East (at Tell Abu Hureyra in Syria, Nahal Oren in Israel, Jericho exhibit at the British Museum) and North Africa (Zincechra, Saniat Ben Huwedy & other sites in the Fezzan).

From 2004 -2006 Tina McGeorge taught anthropology and gender archaeology to under-graduates at the University of Crete, Rethymnon campus, and acted as a supervisor and examiner for postgraduates from 2001 -2010.

INDEPENDENT
Saturday 15 December 1990

Homeric line in human sacrifice found

EVIDENCE of a sacrificial ritual of the type described by Homer in the Iliad has been discovered by archaeologists in Crete. This is the first time in the history of classical archaeology that such a site has been found. The victim’s skull has been analysed by British archaeologist Tina McGeorge, with a full account of the discovery likely to be published in London next week.

The scene, dating back to the half of the eighth century BC, depicts events that would have taken place in front of revered Trojan characters at funerals, one of which is the Greek hero Achilles. An archaeological team excavating the slopes of a mountain in Crete unearthed the ancient Greeks’ sacred and sombre rite, including mounds of human ashes carried out in front of a high altar’s flames. This ritual dates back to Homer’s time.

The victim was almost certainly killed on the cairn as the consummation of some great magiste, possibly so that he could serve the deceased in the next world. Other offerings found around the pyre include bulls, sheep, goats, and pots, likely grabbed by priests just before worship. The huge jars and chariots suggest the fire’s intensity reached 900°C. The human sacrificial victim was executed in front of the funeral pyre with a 30cm knife, found next to his knee, with the blade removed post-mortem.

One of the ivory heads dating from 600BC found on Crete may have been used to hold water needed to dampen the votive pyre. The assemblage of funerary items and the sacrificial victim suggests that the man was killed with a knife in an elaborate ritual. This discovery is the first time archaeology has been able to confirm the practice of funerary sacrifices referred to by Homer. Analysis of the bones by Tim McGeorge suggests the victim was a robust male, about 5ft 6in, aged 30 to 40 years old.

So far, excavations led by Professor Nicholas Stamplidis of the University of Crete have also found 20 other funerary pyres on the site, dating to the mid-sixth century BC, but only one example of human sacrifice. The cremations have yielded various items, including gold leaf jewellery, bronze fineware, beads, bowls, and fine statues and plaques. Composite objects, import items, Phoenician imports, Egyptian faience, and items from Syria, Cyprus, mainland Greece, and the Cyclades have been discovered.

The most exquisite finds so far have been carved ivory heads. Twenty-five in total, each exhibits extremely high craftsmanship in ivory and feathers, likely part of ancient Greek rituals. Dating from 600BC, they probably represent portraits of gods or heroes, with traces of gold suggesting they were part of larger sculptures with gold-covered wood torsos.

The cremation site was the cemetery of a wealthy Cretan city called Eleutherna, which flourished on the slopes of Mount Ida. This site is near the legendary birthplace of Zeus, the king of the gods.