MOSCHATO - 2006

Moschato, 15 Athinon-Peiraios and Afon Giannidi Streets (property of O. Proutzou). Maria Petritaki (ΚΣΤ’ ΕΠΚΑ) reports the discovery of 23 graves and parts of burial enclosures dating from the mid fifth century until the Hellenistic period.

Graves were placed around a podium of limestone blocks (2.33 x 1.5m, oriented northwest-southeast) on the west side of the plot, and to the north of a second podium (4.8 x 1.4m, on the same orientation) further east. A later wall founded on this second podium appears to be associated with a burial immediately to the south of it. A wall of unworked stones enclosed all of these features (incorporating an area of 5.1 x 4.2m). A second enclosure wall in the northeast corner of the plot contained five burials, and a third enclosure was located further south.

The excavated graves comprised six sarcophagi, seven pyres, three cist graves, four shaft graves, two terracotta larnakes and a tile grave. Sixteen contained grave goods which included a black glazed phialidio, two iron knives (one with traces of fabric), numerous pottery vessels and sherds, a bronze mirror, traces of gold, and a gold plated fruit possibly from a wreath. Additional finds from the area include: part of a decorated marble funerary lekythos; two fragments of decorated marble funerary loutrophoroi; ragments from a funerary stele; the pediment and palmettes from a funerary stele; parts of the wings of a sphinx.