SALAMIS - 2004

Junction of E. Venizelos Avenue and Kyprou Street (property of D. Kondothanasi, O.T. 59). M. Pologiorgi (ΚΣτ’ ΕΠΚΑ) reports the discovery of tombs of the late fifth to third centuries, probably from a funerary peribolos (fig. 1). The existence of a peribolos is indicated by a worked limestone block in the southeast corner of the plot which continues below the modern boundary.

Tomb 1: a sarcophagus (1.9 x 0.55m) with two cover slabs, containing the deceased in supine position and goods comprising a fourth-century Bulas group lekythos (fig. 2) and an iron strigil with remains of fabric and leather (perhaps from a belt) by the left calf. A small bronze ring was found beside the strigil. A small quantity of soft greenish material by the right foot was sampled for analysis.

Tomb 2: a sarcophagus (2 x 0.55m) with cover slabs, containing, in addition to the skeleton, a gilded bronze wreath by the skull (with gilded terracotta fruits and gold wire), and at the feet the disc and cover of a bronze mirror, and three West Slope pyxides (two with lids). The smallest of these pyxides contained a sea shell, 6 plano-convex bone objects and a disc, and many bone fragments. In the southeast corner of the tomb was an iron nail. Outside and close to the northeast corner of the sarcophagus were parts of an aryballoid lekythos, three lekythoi, and a black-glaze plate. The tomb dates to the first quarter of the third century (the mirror being slightly older).

Tomb 3: a tile grave located between sarcophagi 2 and 5 (the tile forming the south side bears the mark of an open palm). The tomb contained fragments of a large undecorated vessel, perhaps an amphora, which may have held an enchytrismos which was then covered with tiles.

Tomb 4: a tile grave, probably of a small child, now badly damaged.

Tomb 5: a sarcophagus (1.84 x 0.52m) with two cover slabs, containing, in addition to the skeleton, a Bulas group lekythos of the last quarter of the fifth century, a stone alabastron, and a bronze mirror. At the feet of the deceased were 12 very thin bronze nails, and between the calves, a small quantity of a soft substance sampled for analysis.

Tomb 6: a slab cist (1.87 x 0.5-0.54m) with cover slabs, contained a skeleton in supine position with an iron strigil by the left calf. Iron nails, probably from a wooden bier, lay on the tomb floor.

Tomb 7: a sarcophagus (1.95 x 0.5m) with cover slabs, containing a black-glaze unguentarium of the end of the fourth or early third century by the right calf of the deceased. A small, folded, and very worn lead strip may be part of a katadesmos. Iron nails scattered on the base of the sarcophagus may be from a wooden bier.

Tomb 8: a cist tomb badly damaged by later building, containing, in addition to part of the skeleton, an undecorated unguentarium of the first half of the third century BC, part of an iron strigil and three iron nails.

Tomb 9: a sarcophagus (1.98 x 0.55m) with two cover slabs, containing a skeleton in supine position and, close to the right calf, a stone alabastron and an iron strigil with traces of fabric.

Tomb 10: a badly damaged tile grave, probably of a child.

Tomb 11: two Corinthian cover tiles and an undecorated bowl may belong to a destroyed tile grave.

Part of an uninscribed marble kioniskos was found on the neighbouring plot to the south.