Consumed by the Darkness: The Archaeological Assemblages Uncovered During the 2011 Excavation Season at the Kataphygadi Cave, on Kythera

An excavation conducted by the Ephorate for Palaeoanthropology and Speleology in 2011 at the Kataphygadi Cave on the Myrminkaris ridge in western Kythera has identified evidence of human activity in two separate periods – Late Minoan IB/Late Helladic IIA and Late Helladic IIIB–early Late Helladic IIIC – and documented the stratigraphy, and associated pottery, lithics, faunal and plant remains, as well as secondary burials. Although earlier topographical and archaeological studies had located the site and commented on the presence of archaeological remains, this study represents the first systematic excavation within two chambers of the cave, presenting detailed discussion of the geology, geomorphology, topography, formation processes, and archaeology. The paper explores possible functions of the cave in the Bronze Age and its contextual relationship to cult and burial caves on Crete and mainland Greece, and engages methodological problems of interpreting the evidence of depositional practices derived from excavation.