Fragmentation in Greek Sanctuaries and Bronze Age Hoards. An Interdisciplinary Approach

Across Europe and the Mediterranean, vast numbers of deliberately fragmented artefacts have been unearthed from hoards and ritual contexts. This volume explores, based on the latest research, the cultural, ritual, and practical motivations behind the phenomenon of fragmentation, spanning from the Copper Age in Western, Central and Southeastern Europe to the Archaic period in Greece. Bringing together contributions from leading international scholars in archaeology, archaeometallurgy, and conservation, the volume originates from an international conference held at the Leibniz-Zentrum für Archäologie in Mainz in November 2023. Case studies range from new evidence from the important Greek sanctuary of Olympia to material from the Copper and Bronze Age in Europe, offering new insights into the meaning, function, and afterlife of broken metal objects. From ritual destruction to recycling economies, this book presents various current research approaches and challenges traditional binaries of sacred and profane, proposing instead a new understanding of fragmentation as a complex cultural practice. It is an essential resource for scholars interested in ritual behaviour, object biographies, and the intricate material entanglements of past societies.