Are Aegina's Souvales Bronze Age? A Hypothesis and Research Framework

Rock-cut cisterns known locally as souvales are a distinctive but understudied feature of Aegina’s rural landscape. Local tradition describes them as very ancient, yet no systematic documentation or scientific dating has been undertaken. This paper proposes that certain souvales may have origins in the Bronze Age (ca. 1600–1100 BCE), based on their proximity to documented Mycenaean sites and parallels with dated Minoan cisterns. The hypothesis is offered as a testable framework for future archaeological investigation. A secondary aim is to promote the documentation and protection of these features. Aegina may contain hundreds of souvales, most unrecorded. To address this, the paper provides a simple recording system that can be used by local residents, walking groups, and heritage enthusiasts—not only professional archaeologists. Community participation in documentation could create the first comprehensive inventory of Aegina’s traditional water infrastructure, supporting both scientific research and heritage protection.