Snakes and other microfaunal remains from the Sanctuary of Poseidon at Kalaureia

All content of Opuscula 12 (2019) is available with open access. Printed edition distributed by Eddy.se AB. Also available at Amazon.com, Adlibris, and Bokus. View volume at ERIH PLUS. Snakes and other microfaunal remains from the Sanctuary of Poseidon at Kalaureia By Petros Lymberakis (Natural History Museum of Crete, Greece) & Giorgos Iliopoulos (University of Patras, Greece) Abstract The microfaunal remains recovered at the Sanctuary of Poseidon at Kalaureia (Poros island, Greece) are abundant and varied. They belong to a number of different animal taxa, including snakes, frogs, lizards, and some micromammals. They have been found in several locations but the largest concentration originates in a closed Late Hellenistic/Early Roman deposit within a cistern (Feature 03). The snakes in this assemblage are numerous, belonging to terrestrial and aquatic species, and to both venomous and non-venomous varieties. Bones of some of them along with certain frog bones show traces of burning, which may suggest some type of manipulation before the deposition. The microfaunal remains from the Sanctuary of Poseidon at Kalaureia also strongly suggest that these types of animal were involved in ritual activities—dead or alive. Bibliographical information Petros Lymberakis & Giorgos Iliopoulos, ’Snakes and other microfaunal remains from the Sanctuary…