CHANIA - 1998

Chania. Peace and Friendship Park (A. Papandreou Street). S. Markoulaki (ΚΕ’ ΕΠΚΑ) reports the discovery in 1986 of 35 tombs from a cemetery in the northwest area, plus an EM rubbish pit.

With the exception of a SubMinoan chamber tomb and a Late Geometric grave, most burials (cist inhumations) are Late Classical to Early Hellenistic in date and were looted in antiquity. Surviving goods comprise: terracotta lamps, small jugs, and unguentaria, terracotta figurines, coins, iron strigils, and gold-plated leaves from funerary wreaths. One unlooted Roman chamber tomb of Roman date had a short dromos (1.9m long) which entered the chamber (2.3 x 2.6m) via two steps. The chamber, which was sealed with a sandstone block, had a vaulted roof and a central rectangular pit. The deceased (six or seven, including two children) lay on the floor, head to the entrance at the east, with their grave goods beside them or in wall-niches. Eighteen glass vases (unguentaria, oinochoai, flasks etc), three clay vases (including a Cretan amphora), nine lamps (mostly Corinthian), and two worn coins of the early second to early third centuries AD were found. The main period of use of the tomb was the mid second century AD.

Four more intact chamber tombs of the late second-early third century AD were located in 1992 at the junction of Apokoronou and Paparigopoulou Streets, and three more of the second century in 1998 in Tzanakaki Street.