AIGALEO, Kifissou Avenue - 2010

Aigaleo, Kifissou Avenue 96-98, (O.T. 817, property of Biochalko-Metem Co.) Eleni Asimakou (B’ ΕΠΚΑ) reports on the discovery of a cemetery that was in use from Prehistoric until Roman times and part of it was destroyed in the Byzantine period, in the founding of a settlement.

Prehistoric period: An EH chamber tomb was excavated, which contained secondary inhumations and burial offerings (a figurine, phialai, pigment graters and obsidian blades, Fig. 1). Small amounts of EH pottery sherds were found in the area of the tomb.

Geometric and Archaic periods: Eight geometric pit graves were excavated containing secondary cremations in urns and burial offerings (Fig. 2). In addition a Geometric inurned cremation was found as well as a well containing two animal burials (Fig. 3). Specifically, the well contained the burial of a horse and a skyphos, which had been placed as a burial offering, and in a higher stratum the burial of a dog. The skulls of both animals were missing. Apart from these, 10 Geometric secondary cremations were revealed, as well as three Geometric walls in the area of these cremations.

Two Geometric periboloi were excavated with numerous pottery sherds (possibly from disturbed burials) in their vicinity. One of the two periboloi enclosed a well, while 2 pyres and numerous Archaic figurines were found outside of it. Additionally, a rectangular building was excavated containing an empty kalpis and a pyre. The latter contained bones and Classical pottery sherds. An ancient road ran south of the periboloi.

Finally, a rectangular funeral peribolos was found, marked with a tall, undecorated stele. The peribolos enclosed a Geometric secondary cremation (Fig. 4) and another Geometric urn was found outside of it.

Classical period: A pi-shaped peribolos was excavated enclosing two marble sarcophagi. One of these contained a Classical burial with offerings and the second 2 disturbed burials dating in the late 6^th –early 7^th c. A.D. More sarcophagi (Fig. 5), a terracotta larnax, an empty grave, a burial in a lebes and a cist grave were found outside the peribolos. Additionally, seven Late Classical tile graves were found (Fig. 6). Numerous fragments from statues, stelai, and marble lekythoi and loutrophoroi were found in the area.

Later Periods: Four Roman cist graves were excavated as well as a funeral stele (Fig. 7). Two rectangular graves (Fig. 8) and a cist grave dating to the first half of the 7^th c. A.D. were also found. Finally, part of Byzantine settlement was excavated in the south part of the cemetery. Spolia from the cemetery had been used in the construction of the walls of houses and the retaining walls of the central road running through the settlement.

The excavation was conducted by B. Antoniadis, A. Bassalos, B. Zygouri, K. Kalompatsou, Ch. Papanastasiou, I. Porfyropoulos, S. Polydora, D. Sidiropoulou and K. Triga.