DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.2532#0118
THE HEEAEUM SITE AND ITS BURIAL
97
than their fair share in these cases, yet the effect is undoubted. While the rate of
deposition of worm-casts, and consequent subsidence and burial, is very slow, yet these
animals form a factor not to be entirely overlooked in considering' the subject.
In addition to the animal organisms, plants nnist not be forgotten, since they aid very
materially, not only by acting as wind-breaks and consequent dust-gatherers, but also
through the accumulation of matter by their death and decay. They also promote the
preservation of buried remains by binding the soil together, so that wind and rain have
less opportunity for action in removing it.
THE HERAEUM SITE AND ITS BURIAL.
In taking up the site of the Heraeum more in detail, it must be recalled that the temples
are situated on a spur of Mount. Ilagia Trias, which is cut off from the main mass by
a deep erosion valley. As has already been said, this hill is largely composed of gray
limestone, which lies close to the surface at the upper part, north of the old temple. As
the rocky surface sloped too steeply, the massive Cyclopean retaining wall was built for
the support of the Old Temple platform, which was probably largely artificial. Below
this no limestone was met with in the course of the excavations, and it is rather uncertain
to what extent the slope is natural. Prom the fact that layers of gravel were met with at
low levels in several places, we can infer that much of it was part of the old mountain
slope, while in other places there has been extensive filling in before the construction of
buildings. Covering all the remains of buildings Avas a layer of soil and earth, which
varied in depth from about half a metre over the Old Temple to four or five along the
south and west slopes, especially against retaining and back Avails.
This soil is of course subsequent to the destruction of the buildings, and it will be
not without interest to see whence it was derived.
The existence of the deep erosion valley back of the hill precludes the possibility of
any wash of earth from the mountain slopes above. It was also evident from the results
of the excavations that there had been no settlement, at least of any size, on the hill
since the abandonment of the site as a place of worship of Hera. In this respect it
differs radically from such sites as those of Troy and Plataea. This is due partly to
the fact that the site, at least since the earliest primitive times, was never a place of
residence, but only of worship and pilgrimage, and partly, also, because the hill was of
little or no strategic importance, as was that of Plataea. In some respects, from the
excavator's standpoint, this is a misfortune, since not only would the accumulations of a
settlement have aided in preserving the ruins, but also the use of the site as a quarry
would have been localized, and the blocks and other objects would not now be scattered
far over the Argive plain.
The main agency involved, then, must be attributed to the wind, as has been already
mentioned, the material being derived from the mountain above, and still more from the
plains below. These aeolian deposits were never of great thickness, except against steep
slopes and in hollows. This is to be expected, in view of the small area of the hill
and the lack of abundant vegetation. Trees are entirely absent, and, except for a
few thyme bushes, the only vegetation is short, coarse grass and plants of no greater
height.
Worms may have played some part in the process, but in all probability only to a small
extent. As far as I can recall, worm-casts were very rare on such surfaces as that of the
97
than their fair share in these cases, yet the effect is undoubted. While the rate of
deposition of worm-casts, and consequent subsidence and burial, is very slow, yet these
animals form a factor not to be entirely overlooked in considering' the subject.
In addition to the animal organisms, plants nnist not be forgotten, since they aid very
materially, not only by acting as wind-breaks and consequent dust-gatherers, but also
through the accumulation of matter by their death and decay. They also promote the
preservation of buried remains by binding the soil together, so that wind and rain have
less opportunity for action in removing it.
THE HERAEUM SITE AND ITS BURIAL.
In taking up the site of the Heraeum more in detail, it must be recalled that the temples
are situated on a spur of Mount. Ilagia Trias, which is cut off from the main mass by
a deep erosion valley. As has already been said, this hill is largely composed of gray
limestone, which lies close to the surface at the upper part, north of the old temple. As
the rocky surface sloped too steeply, the massive Cyclopean retaining wall was built for
the support of the Old Temple platform, which was probably largely artificial. Below
this no limestone was met with in the course of the excavations, and it is rather uncertain
to what extent the slope is natural. Prom the fact that layers of gravel were met with at
low levels in several places, we can infer that much of it was part of the old mountain
slope, while in other places there has been extensive filling in before the construction of
buildings. Covering all the remains of buildings Avas a layer of soil and earth, which
varied in depth from about half a metre over the Old Temple to four or five along the
south and west slopes, especially against retaining and back Avails.
This soil is of course subsequent to the destruction of the buildings, and it will be
not without interest to see whence it was derived.
The existence of the deep erosion valley back of the hill precludes the possibility of
any wash of earth from the mountain slopes above. It was also evident from the results
of the excavations that there had been no settlement, at least of any size, on the hill
since the abandonment of the site as a place of worship of Hera. In this respect it
differs radically from such sites as those of Troy and Plataea. This is due partly to
the fact that the site, at least since the earliest primitive times, was never a place of
residence, but only of worship and pilgrimage, and partly, also, because the hill was of
little or no strategic importance, as was that of Plataea. In some respects, from the
excavator's standpoint, this is a misfortune, since not only would the accumulations of a
settlement have aided in preserving the ruins, but also the use of the site as a quarry
would have been localized, and the blocks and other objects would not now be scattered
far over the Argive plain.
The main agency involved, then, must be attributed to the wind, as has been already
mentioned, the material being derived from the mountain above, and still more from the
plains below. These aeolian deposits were never of great thickness, except against steep
slopes and in hollows. This is to be expected, in view of the small area of the hill
and the lack of abundant vegetation. Trees are entirely absent, and, except for a
few thyme bushes, the only vegetation is short, coarse grass and plants of no greater
height.
Worms may have played some part in the process, but in all probability only to a small
extent. As far as I can recall, worm-casts were very rare on such surfaces as that of the