AGIOS NIKOLAOS - 2005

Agios Nikolaos (land of E. Bazina). G. Riginos (Η’ ΕΠΚΑ) reports the discovery of 12 Byzantine cist graves a few metres to the west of the bed of the river Kokytos. The graves, of thin limestone slabs, were set together, all oriented east-west, in an area of 10 x 5m. The smaller tombs 5 and 7 held child burials. Tomb 2 contained a bronze ring, 4 an iron object, and 6 two bronze hoop earrings: the remaining graves lacked offerings. The bodies lay directly on the ground, head to the west, hands crossed on the chest: tombs 2, 3, 9 and 11 had small stone headrests. The burials rested on earlier architectural remains: four stone walls, a paved area, a rectangular cement-lined structure (probably a cistern), and a large pithos with relief linear decoration. The few finds include sherds of plain fine ware as well as pithoi with rope decoration, a conical terracotta loomweight, part of a terracotta inscribed tile, small bronze and iron items, and five bronze coins.

At least three phases of activity are noted. The first in the first to third centuries AD, the second when the building took its final form in the fourth to sixth centuries, and the third, when the 12 Byzantine tombs were constructed.