Marina Schutti

A Cypriot Pig Story. A Typological and Contextual Analysis of Pig Representations and their Role in Cyprus from the Bronze Age to the Roman Era.

This dissertation investigates pig representations and the role of pigs in Cyprus from the Bronze Age to the Roman period. A central focus is the development of a comprehensive typology of pig representations, ranging from figurines to depictions on mosaics and seals, which classifies objects by type, shape and size, material, and contextual associations. Each object is systematically catalogued and analyzed according to type, chronological placement and context. The typology allows for the identification of changes and developments in production, use, and symbolic meaning of pigs across different periods. Comparative analysis with contemporary Mediterranean evidence situates Cypriot objects within broader patterns of animal representation. The study further includes the analysis of animal remains, enabling a direct comparison between iconographical and zooarchaeological evidence. The results demonstrate that pigs served not only as an important food resource but also were of symbolic and ritual significance, with their representations indicating shifts in social, economic, and religious practices over time. By integrating typological, contextual, and zooarchaeological data, this research offers insights into representations and broader role of pigs in society in Cyprus from the Bronze Age to the Roman Era.

 

Curriculum Vitae

• 2020 BA Archaeology at the University of Graz 

• 2021 BA Ancient History at the University of Graz 

• 2023 MA Archaeology at the University of Graz 

• Since October 2023 PhD candidate at the IGS "Resonant Self-World Relations in Ancient and Modern Socio-Religious Practices" at the University of Graz / Max Weber-Kolleg der Universität Erfurt 

• 2017 Excavation Schöckl, Austria (University of Graz) 

• 2018 Excavation in Kalapodi, Greece (German Archaeological Institute) and Virunum, Austria (University of Graz) 

• 2019 Museum work in Pheneos, Greece (University of Graz) 

• 2022-2025 Several excavations in Erimi, Cyprus (University of Graz) 

• 2019-2023 Student Representative (Archaeology and Ancient History) 

• 2019-2025 Social Media Manager Institute of Classics (University of Graz) 

• Since 2018 Lange Nacht der Museen (Organisation and Assistance) 

• Since 2019 Organisation and Assistance at Conferences (PoCA, Melammu, Adventgespräche, IGS Conference) 

• Since 2021 Workshops with students at the University of Graz 

• 2022-2024 Presentations at PoCA (Graz, Athens, Cyprus) 

• 2022 Workshop Pop Up Store Graz 

• 2022-2024 Certificate Cultural Management 

• Since 2023 Workshops with school students at the University of Graz 

• Since 2024 Assistance University Courses 

• 2020-2023 Student Assistance at the at the University of Graz (Department of Ancient Eastern Mediterranean Studies) 

• 2022-2025 Archaeological project at Erimi Pitharka, Project Organisation, Excavation and Social Media Manager