AEGINA - Faneromeni - 2006

Faneromeni (property of K. Gennitsari). E. Papastavrou (KΣΤ’ ΕΠΚΑ) reports the discovery of nineteen underground tombs with shaft entrances, twelve surface graves, a pit grave and one cist grave, mostly looted, dating from the late sixth to the fourth century BC. The majority of the underground tombs were two-chambered and oriented north-south. Tomb I had two chambers, one to the south and the other to the west, entered via a shaft. The south chamber contained two sarcophagi, and the west one for an adult and one for a child. A shallow circular pit was found in the northeast corner of the shaft entry. Tomb II , which also had two chambers, oriented north-south, was found empty. Tomb III had two chambers, oriented north-south with one sarcophagus in each. Tomb IV had two chambers, oriented north-south, a portion of the north-south wall of the tomb had collapsed. The south chamber contained a damaged sarcophagus. Tomb V had chambers that opened to the east and west of the shaft entrance. There was no indication of any burial. Tomb VI had two small chambers with rounded corners and a small shaft entrance, found empty. Tomb VII had two chambers opening from the south and west walls of the shaft entrance. Tomb VIII had two chambers oriented north-south; a skull was found in the south chamber. Tomb IX, adjacent to Tomb VII (the dividing wall had collapsed), had white plastered walls and contained a cist grave (it was too dangerous to proceed with excavation in the chamber). Tomb X had two chambers oriented north-south; its roof and walls were mostly destroyed. Tomb XIII had two chambers oriented north-south with a shaft entrance, at the bottom of twhich was a rectangular pit containing ash (but no bone or sherds). Tomb XIV had two chambers oriented north-south, with a damaged shaft entrance. Tomb XVI had two chambers oriented north-south; the base of a sarcophagus lay along the western wall of the north chamber. Tomb XVII had two chambers to the east and west of the shaft entrance, with a sarcophagus in the east chamber. Tomb XVIII had two chambers oriented north-south; the south chamber contained a sarcophagus. Tomb XIX had two chambers oriented east-west; the east chamber contained a partially damaged sarcophagus. A single cist grave at the northern edge of the property contained two skeletons with the skulls facing south.