KALLITHEA - 2010

Kallithea, 239 Andromachis St. (property of N. Karadima). M. Petritaki (ΚΣΤ’ ΕΠΚΑ) reports on the discovery of an extensive cemetery and a road. The road runs on the NE-SW axis and was in use since the Geometric period. The cemetery extended in the wider area of the property. 50 burials were excavated from this plot dating in the Late Geometric, Archaic and Classical (5th c. B.C.) periods (Fig 1). The burials are pyres for adults, and inurned cremations and two terracotta larnakes for children. There are 7 inurned cremations in pithoi and amphorae. Five of them have burial offerings.

Burial XI is an inurned cremation in a pithos. The ashes had been preserved in the vessel. The walls of the pithos attest to the cremation having taken place inside of it. A kyathos, parts of a lekanis and a broken miniature oinochoe had been placed around the pithos. Additionally, sherds were found on top of the pithos attesting to rituals having taken place after the cremation.

Burial XXV is an inurned cremation in an amphora. The amphora is intact and a pithos sherd served as its lid. The vessel is a horse-head amphora and dates in 600-570 B.C. (Fig 2). It contained a pyxis and its lid, a trefoil-lipped oinochoe, two miniature kyathoi, 2 miniature skyphoi and few bone remains.

Some of the pyre pits are shallow and others deep. Pyre XXXIV contained an amphora with a lid, which had been used as an urn. The amphora is decorated with a water bird and double axes on either side of the bird. The votive offerings include a krateriskos and a skyphos. Pyre XXXV contained a bronze cauldron, which had been used as an urn. The votive offerings include a krateriskos and a kyathos. Urns were also found in pyres XXI and XXII.