Alepotrypa Cave
Alepotrypa Cave of Diros · Fox Hole Cave
Late Neolithic to Early Bronze Age·Final Neolithic / Early Helladic·🇬🇷 Peloponnese, Laconia, Diros, Greece
Wikipedia contributors · CC (see file page)
About
About Alepotrypa Cave
Vast Neolithic cave complex at Diros Bay, Laconia, used as settlement and burial site 6000–3200 BCE before earthquake sealed entrance. Excavated since 1970 revealing 170 burials, pottery, tools, and a Mycenaean ossuary, with rich Final Neolithic deposits and human remains.
Why it mattersLargest Neolithic burial cave in Europe, key for Final Neolithic mortuary practice and trade.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Cause of violent 3200 BCE sealing earthquake
- 02Mycenaean ossuary reburial link to Hades
Theories
- 01Catastrophic collapse ended ceremonial center
- 02Entrance to underworld in later myth
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 6000 BCE (natural cave, occupation from Early Neolithic)
- Period
- Late Neolithic to Early Bronze Age
- Culture
- Final Neolithic / Early Helladic
- Purpose
- Habitation, burial and ritual gathering
- Rediscovered
- Modern excavation 19th–20th century
- Excavation
- Excavated
c. 6000 BCE (natural cave, occupation from Early Neolithic)
Initial construction / first occupation at Alepotrypa Cave
1970–present
Systematic excavation and interdisciplinary study of Alepotrypa Cave
On the ground
Structures & features
36.6386° N · 22.3823° E · 10 m · 3 mapped features
- Great Burial Chamber (Chamber N)burial chamberMain ossuary chamber with 80+ inhumations, pottery and jewelry on cave floor36.6388° N · 22.3825° E
- Lake Chamber Stalagmite OssuaryossuaryMycenaean secondary burial ossuary with disarticulated remains among stalagmites36.6384° N · 22.3824° E
- Entrance Settlement AreahabitationNeolithic habitation area near collapsed entrance with hearths, pits and pottery kilns36.6389° N · 22.3822° E
Gallery