KEPHALOVRYO Chalratsos - 2006

Kephalovryso (Chalratsos). G. Chatzi-Spiliopoulou (Director, Ζ' ΕΠΚΑ) presents a preliminary publication of an almost intact small tholos tomb. The chamber was almost round (3.2 x 3.25m) and preserved to a h. of 2.52m. The entrance, ca. 1m², faces S; the stomion is built of limestone slabs. The walls incline inwards and widen outwards. There is no dromos as such, probably because there was no need for such a retaining function since the tomb was built against the lower slopes of the hill. The doorway was 1.26m h. and was blocked by smaller slabs; there was a monolithic lintel. The chamber construction followed the usual manner of tholoi; walls were made of irregularly-sized, minimally-worked stone slabs. Almost the entire structure, apart from the very top, is preserved. An unusual feature is a wall erected over the lintel, also of stone slabs, preserved to 1m h. While it may originally have been straight, pressure from the earth behind it has forced it into a trapezoidal shape. This wall has no connection with the tholos superstructure and cannot be considered analogous to the retaining triangles of larger tholoi.

Within the chamber, ca. 1m of fill contained mostly finds of later periods, as well as displaced stones and human bone. Remains of 3 funerary deposits, likely previous burials pushed aside, were identified close to the chamber wall. Human bone, notably cranial remains, were placed in the N, E and W curves of the wall. There were no burial pits, nor evidence of burial in the centre of the chamber. Myc pottery consisted of a little decorated ware (5 LH I/IIA vessels are catalogued), more plainware and some handmade wares; other finds were very few. Handmade wares mostly come from a distinct location in the NW quadrant of the chamber and cannot be associated with any particular burial deposit; the deep cup is a characteristic shape. This ware is consistent with an LH I/IIA date, but is also known in MH II and III. It is likely that the tholos was built in the MH III/LH I and reused in LH II. Non ceramic finds include a bone pin and ring, 4 clay whorls, a stone tool, bronze beads and single beads of rock crystal and glass paste. Parts of the shoulders and lips of large pithoi were found in the vicinity of the tomb, together with a quantity of post-Myc sherds and tile. E of the tholos, on the land of A. Machaira, sherds of a pithos with finger-impressed decoration were found.

2.60m from the tomb entrance, a curved retaining wall extends for 3.51m; this includes one very large block (2.04 x 0.85 x 0.35m) within a lighter structure. It is founded at a higher level than the tomb and is a later peribolos probably designed to divide contemporary constructions from the ancestral funerary monument. Much Rom and later pottery was noted in the area.
Post-Myc finds, especially much pottery, come from the area of the tholos, as well as the fill inside it: they indicate that the monument was reused during the LRom period (3rd−4th Ct AD) and perhaps later. A preliminary indication of the forms represented is given: many glass vessels are also present. Three catalogued items (a lamp, a bronze coin, and tegula mammata) are indicative of the date proposed. It is likely that a Rom farmstead with a bath was situated close to the tholos: local reports of destroyed cist tombs may indicate burials of this period also. It is unclear whether the tholos was reused during this period, and, if so, for what purpose: there is no indication of later cult. The presence of a LRom lamp in the tomb may indicate that it was looted at that time.