SPASMENI VRYSI - Karyotes - 2004

Leukas, Spasmeni Vrysi, Karyotes (Kemalidi property). Y. Phaklari (ΙΒ' ΕΠΚΑ) reports on continuing excavation in the south cemetery of ancient Leukas, in an area outside the south arm of the city wall. The plot lies on the right of the road from Leukas to Nidri, next to the Stavraka property where graves have previously been excavated.

Fifty tombs were excavated, dating from the fourth to the second centuries BC (including 14 cist graves, two tile graves, 27 pits and five graves of uncertain form). They were oriented southeast-northwest and were more widely spaced in the west of the plot where the ground was rocky, but densely packed to the east. Parts of at least 20 stelai were recovered in varying states of preservation, ten of which were inscribed with single word references to the name of the deceased (ΑΓΑΘΙΝΟ, ΧΑΡΙΔΑΜΟΣ, ΑΡΧΙΤΕΛΗΣ etc.) while six had two words (ΘΕΑ ΑΠΟΛΛ..., ΚΙΒΩΤΟΝ ΣΩΤΙΣ etc.). The stele type bearing the name of the deceased and the greeting ΧΑΙΡΕ (ΗΡΑΚΛΕ...ΧΑΙΡΕ) becomes common at the end of the Hellenistic period. One smaller stele was inscribed Π for ΠΑΙΣ. Grave good included lekythoi, lamps, unguentaria probably from a local workshop, skyphoi, pyxides, gold leaves from a wreath in tomb 2, bronze coins and a mirror with relief decoration, and iron rings, nails, a knife blade, parts of finger-rings and a strigil).