Displayed here is the marble head of a Kore statue—a young female figure typical of Archaic Greek sculpture—dating to around 510 BC. It was discovered inside Tomb Z, one of the cist-shaped graves in the royal necropolis. The face is fractured, but based on its proportions, it likely belonged to a statue standing about 1.60 meters tall. The head wears a ribbon, and there’s a hole at the top, which may have held a lunette—a metal disc used to protect the statue from birds—or perhaps a metal decorative flower.

The marble used comes from the nearby Tranovalto quarries, known for their exceptional quality. Evidence strongly supports the presence of a sculpture workshop right in Aiani, possibly operating in the royal courtyard of Elimeia. This Kore likely stood above the tomb, serving as a grave marker. Interestingly, it bears stylistic similarities to the Korai statues of the Athenian Acropolis, suggesting strong artistic connections between Aiani and the cultural centers of southern Greece.