18. A Typology of Votive Offerings: Observations Regarding a Sacred Area on the Piano del Tamburino, Himera

Abstract

The Institute of Mediterranean Archaeology at the University of Bern has conducted archaeological investigations since 2012 on the Piano del Tamburino in the territory of the Greek colony of Himera. This project has brought to light the substantial remains of two sanctuaries. This contribution presents a selection of the ritual contexts excavated so far, which exemplify the variety of these practices in terms of their multiple and complex functions. By studying the different material remains together with archaeozoological and palaeobotanical samples, the ritual activities become a reliable data set for discussions about ancient social identity. This combination of material can be considered as a cultural marker.