Neolithic “portraits” in Sarakenos cave, Boeotia

Sarakenos does not represent a typical example of a Greek Neolithic cave hosting domestic, funerary, and ritual activities. The site possesses exceptional natural advantages, as it is extremely spacious and occupies a location overlooking a prehistoric lake, now the Kopais basin. Besides direct access to the lacustrine environment—a particularly rich source of subsistence resources—it is in immediate access of the terrestrial resources provided by the plateaus around the lake and the forested zones on the surrounding slopes.

Neolithic installations occupy mainly the area from the cave entrance inward to its central chamber. They accumulate one above the other in uninterrupted chronological succession, indicating the long-term permanence of these activities in the space. Domestic use of the cave dominates throughout the Neolithic period and is associated with an enormous volume of remains: clay vessels, chipped stone tools and ground stone, weaving equipment, ornaments, animal bones, and other food remains. Use of the cave also involves on-site processing of raw materials for the manufacture of tools and ornaments. The funerary use of the cave is also significant and includes burials with grave goods.

Within this context belongs the large assemblage of anthropomorphic figurines recovered from the advanced stage of the Neolithic deposits. The presence of figurines in caves is not unusual; however, Sarakenos represents perhaps a unique case in which the figurines number in hundreds—perhaps even more—and span a long chronological period extending across the 5th and 4th millennia BC. Morphologically, they display a wide range of forms that reflect known contemporary types in terms of general modeling, yet with distinctive individual characteristics. One particularly striking feature is their focus on portraits and the depiction of facial traits, hairstyles, ornaments, and garments using sculptural and polychrome details.

Alongside evidence of ritual practices in Neolithic settlements, the question of whether rituals were also performed in caves has so far received cautious and largely theoretical responses. This is hardly surprising, since among the majority of cave assemblages there is insufficient material evidence to clearly distinguish everyday domestic activities from practices that had a performative, ritual, or dedicatory character. This distinction becomes particularly difficult if we consider that everyday life in caves (for example, meals) may itself have incorporated symbolism, ceremonial acts, offerings, and meaningful gestures. On the other hand, figurines on their own do not necessarily fulfil a ceremonial function. Instead, current research tends to situate them within frameworks of interpersonal communication, exchange, and the expression of identity. Sarakenos cave perhaps provides a case where ritual practices are present and are imbued with a strong individualized character.