University of Kent

Experimentation with the Philioremos anthropomorphic figurines
This is a university of Kent project (Dr. Evangelos Kyriakidis) in collaboration with the professional ceramicist Vassilis Politakis and the archaeological assistance of Céline Murphy (University of Kent).

By experimenting with all the natural materials detected in these figurines and by practicing all the possible firing techniques that can lead to the results observed on the originals, we plan to explore the level of ceramic technology used in the creation of these ancient pieces of art and to give answers to archaeological and ethnographic matters.

Petrographic, chemical and geological advice has been provided by Dr Eleni Nodarou (petrography – INSTAP), Harriet Lewis-Robinson (fabric analysis – Vermount US), Dr Georgia Kordatzaki (petrography – BSA), Dr Vassilis Kilikoglou (chemistry & archeometry – Demokritos), Dr Yannis Bassiakos (geology – Demokritos) and Dr Charalambos Fassoulas (geology – Museum of Natural History of Crete, University of Crete). We warmly thank these individuals for their support. We also extend our gratitude to the British School at Athens (Knossos) for the use of its facilities.