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Curium Terracottas, cont.
made famous by the finds at the rustic shrine of Ayia Irini, but of far higher artistic quality, as is fitting for dedications made at a great sanctuary of Apollo in this important Cypriote kingdom. Much time was spent in attempting to join the fragments of these figures, but it is now clear that only a small proportion is represented by the fragments so far excavated and that the area containing them extends far into unexcavated regions. [handwritten: ⁄the] Therefore, the large figures, despite their scientific importance and artistic excellence, should await further excavation before publication.
The pottery associated with these terracottas has been examined; the earliest wares come from the end of the Geometric period, while the greatest quantity is to be dated in the periods Cypro-Archaic I and Cypro-Archaic II. This confirms the conclusion reached from the study of the terracottas themselves, that they extend from the late eighth century through the sixth century B.C. The chronological development within this period has been fixed with some certainty for the first time in the study of such terracottas.
(2) The Votive Deposit came from a walled semicircular pit or favissa [handwritten: (somewhat to the south of the Archaic Precinct Fill)], which contained many thousands of small votive figurines smashed and buried together. Considerable success crowned the joining of these figures and there are about 3,000 catalogued pieces. Small horsemen and quadrigas with their occupants and teams are in far the greatest number. One category is handmade throughout and, though showing certain characteristics peculiar to the manufactories of Curium [handwritten: Kourion], is of a type represented at other sanctuaries, particularly those of Apollo, in Cyprus. In the second category, a curious technical device, found almost exclusively at Curium [handwritten: Kourion], was used. The figurine is still handmade in the archaic convention, but the face is impressed
65 figures hard to readstruck struck outadded written in above” jug ditto, and what it repeatsword reading not certain
