“Binders of Faliro”: Rescue work continues for 78 chained human skeletons

Under adverse conditions, the rescue and conservation work of the “Binders of Faliro”, 78 chained human skeletons discovered in March 2016, as part of a rescue excavation in the Esplanade of the “Stavros Niarchos Foundation” Cultural Center, continues.

The Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni watched the conservation work of the find of the “Binders of Faliro”, which is systematically carried out by the Ephorate of Antiquities of Piraeus and Islands.

The “Binders of Faliro”, a find dating back to the turbulent period of the second half of the 7th BC. century. They are men who have been executed at that spot for unknown reasons and their bodies were buried with their chains in three piles. The first cluster consists of two groups of binders. The posture of the binders of the first group shows that the skeletons still wore their bonds. The binders of the second group were simply tied with the hands behind, without metal shackles. The binders of the second cluster were also without metal bonds. In the third cluster the skeletons have iron shackles on their wrists.

From its discovery until the end of 2022, the osteological material was under the care of the conservators of the Ephorate of Antiquities by country. However, given the environmental conditions, the proximity to the water table, the constant rising humidity, combined with the existence of salts and their constant recrystallization, it was decided – after the unanimous positive opinion of the Central Archaeological Council – to temporarily move it from the site of finding it in a suitably shaped adjacent position, on a concrete base. The moving work was carried out, at the beginning of 2023, by sliding on iron rails for the first two clusters and by a crane vehicle for the third cluster, after first the osteological material was encased in wooden structures and the whole find was held by the construction of a metal grid . In order to control the environmental conditions, humidification-dehumidification and air-conditioning mechanical equipment was installed inside the temporary shell, while the conditions are continuously recorded through electronic recorders.

Preventive and life-saving maintenance operations are carried out on all the skeletal material. The aim is to preserve and protect the find, but also the taphonomy, arrangement of the skeletal remains. Particular importance is given to the work of holding the slopes of the pit, so that there is no burden on the bones. Fixing operations are constantly being carried out, as well as operations to strengthen the protective armor. Note the difficulty in carrying out maintenance work, as access to the find is difficult.

At the same time, the tender for the selection of the contractor for the construction of the museum shell to protect and highlight the find, in the same place where they were discovered, is being completed. The project, with a budget of approximately 6,500,000 euros, is financed by the Recovery Fund. The shell consists of an underground space of approximately 450 sq.m. for the protection of the skeletal material, and a ground floor, with an area of ​​approximately 425 sq.m., which will house the surveillance material, the operating infrastructure and the visitor service areas. The principles of the design of the building infrastructure are, on the one hand, the harmonious integration of the ground part into the shaped Esplanade, and on the other hand, the formation of a modest basement shell for the repositioning of the “bindings”, which will allow their optimal viewing and understanding from visitors. The entire museum infrastructure is designed to be universally accessible.