Marble urns in the Sparta Museum

In association with the study of the ancient quarries of Laconia by the research group from the Department of Archaeology and Art History at Athens University and the 5th Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities, an investigation was undertaken of the material used to make the stone vases kept in the Sparta Museum, and by extension of their typology, date and use. The majority of the vases that are presented here are probably made of the characteristic grey Taÿgetos marble, extracted mainly from the quarries at Platyvouni (Socha) and Goranoi (Yinaika). They are mainly cinerary or ossuary urns. Some thoughts on the original uses of these vases and the contemporary burial rites are also put forward.