Ladies of Anavlochos: Tech sheds light on ancient Greek figurines

The Greek Reporter and other news outlets highlighted the experimental archaeology at the University of Cincinnati that is shedding light on Bronze Age art.

UC College of Arts and Sciences Assistant Professor Florence Gaignerot-Driessen is leading an archaeological project at the ancient Greek site of Anavlochos on the island of Crete where she and her collaborators study clay fragments.

Atop the mountain she found figurines and molded plaques embedded deep in the crevices of the bedrock, all of female figures.

“We call them ‘the ladies of Anavlochos,’” she said.

Among the clay artifacts are flat plaques featuring the mythological sphinx. Others are figures of women wearing traditional clothing, including a large decorative hat called a polos and a cloak called an epiblema, over a belted dress.

Gaignerot-Driessen collaborated with managers and technicians in the Ceramics Lab and Rapid Prototyping Center of UC's College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning to create 3D-printed resin figurines to craft new ceramic molds and figurines. 

She is taking UC students to Crete to study the site and make figurines from locally sourced clays to learn whether the pieces were broken intentionally or accidentally when they were placed in bedrock crevices at Anavlochos as an offering.

Read the Greek Reporter story.

Featured image at top: Assistant Professor of Classics Florence Gaignerot-Driessen works in the Ceramics Lab in UC's College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning. Photo/Andrew Higley/UC Marketing + Brand