NIKOPOLIS - North Cemetery - 2001

Nikopolis, North Cemetery. K. Zachos (ΙΒ' ΕΠΚΑ) reports on the second excavation season.

West of the northwest gate in the city wall, the area of the cemetery in contact with the north city wall was shown to have suffered extensive destruction following collapse of parts of the wall. An area of 120m² was excavated, revealing 21 tombs (enchytrismoi, tile and cist graves), one funerary building and a Π-shaped structure. Five of these graves (four tile graves and a brick-built cist) were grouped within a peribolos: the remaining 16 (including five tile graves) were freely disposed. A Π-shaped structure in opus testaceum with a floor of limestone and brick fragments in cement was probably another funerary building, noting the many fragments of limestone sarcophagus found on the floor.

In the main north cemetery area, a number of mausolea were investigated in land plot 79.

Mausoleum 1: clearance revealed the collapsed brick vault, the corners of which were preserved in situ. The floor consisted of ceramic and marble fragments in cement, with an orthogonal receptacle for libations (profusio) in the centre of the room: there was an arched door opening. The chamber contained five cist tombs (four of which contained single monolithic sarcophagi), two burial receptacles (between the cist tomb walls and cemented onto them), a monolithic limestone slab support for sarcophagi in the northeast corner, and eight semi-circular niches for cinerary urns. Grave offerings include gold sheet, danakes and earrings, bronze coins, and glass and ceramic lachrymateria and lamps. Part of a later floor was preserved in the southwest corner, paved with irregular slabs and stone spolia. Outside the mausoleum lay sections of its collapsed wall, with two cist graves outside the south and north walls, and a Π-shaped peribolos to the west.

Only the lower part of Mausoleum 15 (parallel to Mausoleum 1, to the east) is preserved, with no evidence for the superstructure. The north, south and east walls were founded on a podium of limestone blocks (decoratively finished on the visible, south side). The floor had irregular limestone paving set in cement: the arched entrance was in the middle of the east wall. The chamber contained three cist tombs and one burial receptacle. A large number of densely-packed tombs (five cist tombs, 10 tile graves and three sarcophagi) lay outside the mausoleum to the south.

Sections of the collapsed wall of Mausoleum 23 are preserved, with a water channel running parallel to the west side, and to the west of that, one cist tomb and one tile grave.

West of Mausolea 1, 15, and 23, lay part of a strong retaining wall for a funerary peribolos to the south. Two further Mausolea, 24 and 25, were identified but not investigated.

Also in the main cemetery area, 1,325m² of land plot 67 were investigated, including five mausolea (4, 5, 19, 20 and 23), a funerary peribolos, graves of differing types outside the chambers, and the open-air Area A. The remains of two further mausolea (3 and 22) were also located, along with sections of wall from funerary constructions or periboloi. At the west edge of the plot, a 30m-long stretch of north-south wall in opus caementicium likely defines a wide funerary street, with a further cemetery area beyond. Three orthogonal structures in contact with the west part of the wall were probably bases for altars or offering tables connected with funerary cults.

Mausolea 5 and 19 are similar in form, - a rectangular chamber with a prodomos on the west, the façade of which was open and approached via steps. Both were looted: many fragments of Assos-type sarcophagi lay inside them.

Mausoleum 4, north of 5, is exceptionally well preserved, with a chamber (in the form of a small columbarium for cremations) entered from the west side, and a semi-circular vaulted roof (the lower part of which survives, marked off from the wall beneath by a band of ornamental brickwork with red paint). The walls are in opus testaceum with a rubble fill, plastered on the interior: inside they contain three rectangular niches on the long sides and one and two on the respective short sides, to hold cinerary urns (ceramic stamnoi). The chamber had a black and white mosaic floor. Finds include many fragments of marble architectural members with relief decoration. Seven tombs (four brick-built cists and three limestone sarcophagi set into brick-built structures, mostly opened) were arranged around the walls in a Π-shape. The northwest part of Mausoleum 4 was founded over an earlier funerary structure which extends to the south. The west and south sides are bordered by a peribolos on a stone base, entered from the west. Inside this peribolos were four cist tombs, one tile grave, a limestone sarcophagus set in a brick-built structure, and two enchytrismoi. A large quantity of pottery and bronze coins was found between the graves.

North of Mausoleum 4 was a wall (likely the north wall of a further mausoleum) variously in opus testaceum and opus mixtum. The chamber of this mausoleum contained two looted limestone sarcophagi: a destruction layer contained construction material from funerary structures, a large quantity of pottery, iron nails, marble architectural remains, bronze coins, two antefixes (one depicting a gorgon and floral ornament) and a brick stamped TVR. East of Mausoleum 4 were two walls of another funerary structure: between these two buildings, a closed-off passage contained a limestone sarcophagus in a brick-built structure.

Mausoleum 20, north of Mausoleum 4, is a rectangular chamber entered from the west (a monolithic threshold is preserved in situ, with cuttings for a double door), with a semicircular vaulted roof, and a limestone paved floor. Arranged in a Π-shape around the walls were four monolithic limestone sarcophagi, an Assos-type sarcophagus, a limestone sarcophagus contained in a brick-built structure, and two burial receptacles, all lacking covers. The large quantity of finds included fragmentary architectural members (some with relief decoration), a terracotta antefix, part of a terracotta sima with relief floral decoration, and four bronze coins. Human bones scattered in the centre of the chamber surely come from the looted burials. Outside, a limestone sarcophagus in a brick-built structure was in contact with the west wall of the mausoleum.

Mausoleum 21, in contact with the east wall of Mausoleum 20, was built in opus testaceum with zones of opus mixtum, with cream-coloured wall plaster on the interior, and a doorway on the west side. The floor was paved in limestone. Arranged in a Π-shape around the walls were three monolithic limestone sarcophagi set in brick-built structures (lacking their covers) and one built cist tomb. Finds include two floral antefixes, fragmentary marble architectural members, a bronze coin, pieces of inscribed grave stelai (with one or two Greek characters preserved), iron nails, and pieces of wall plaster decorated with red and yellow bands.

Only the boundaries of Mausoleum 3, just north of Mausoleum 20, were exposed – again a rectangular structure in opus testaceum with a west entrance and rectangular niches in the exterior face containing cinerary urns. A partially investigated prodomos on the west side preserved traces of white marble revetment. A large quantity of marble spolia on the surface of the tomb area included fragments of relief sculpture (mostly drapery) and relief Ionic and Lesbian cymas.

Mausoleum 22, in contact with the west wall of Mausoleum 3, was cleared of surface debris to reveal a rectangular chamber in opus mixtum (with areas of opus testaceum and opus spicatum): rectangular and semicircular niches were opened in the interior face of the north and east walls. Outside the mausoleum, three monumental tombs cannot yet be associated with a peribolos or any other structure.