SALAMIS Mavrovouni - 2008

Mavrovouni. G. Kakava and S. Zyrba report on rescue excavation of LCh and EByz remains on the Sousti property, 200m from the Gulf of Aianteio and 350m from the village of that name. Three tombs were excavated.
Tomb I is a vaulted cist, built of rubble masonry with lime plaster, which contained 2 successive burial deposits. The upper, which contained the scattered bones of 6 adults, was almost entirely without goods, and probably represents secondary reburial. The lower contained 2 disintegrating adult skeletons, with 7 plainware vessels, a bronze pin and a bronze probe. Bronze and iron nails indicate that the deceased had been buried on a wooden bier. The tomb dates between the 5th and 6th Ct AD.
Tomb II lies SW of tomb I, and is a wide, rectangular cist of roughly worked irregular masonry (0.4-0.5m thick) with lime plaster, preserved to a maximum h. of 0.65m, and with a rounded vault. It was entered from the E; the steps down into the tomb, preserved in situ, are made of bricks with wavy-line finger impressions. Many burials were made in 2 episodes. In the upper, the skeletal material was scattered, with the remains of at least 8 crania in the NW part of the chamber, with many fewer bones, chiefly from the lower limbs, over the remaining area. There were almost no grave goods - merely parts of a pair of bronze earrings, a silver earring, 2 small iron nails and a vase at the E side of the tomb. The presence of this jewellery is taken by the excavators to imply that at least 2 of the deceased were women. In the lower level, 3 skeletons were uncovered close to the S long wall of the tomb, in extended, supine position, directly on the ground. Three adult crania and one of a small child were found at the NW corner, while a quantity of lower limb bones was found along the N side. Despite the poor condition of the skeletal material, 7 burials could be recognized, accompanied by rich goods. A vessel was found broken at the entrance of the tomb: personal ornament included a silver and a bronze pin, 4 bronze buckles (including one of the de Bolgota type), a pair of bronze earrings, a bronze ring and a small bronze bell, as well as one silver and 2 bronze probes. In this level also were iron nails of various sizes and 2 iron rings. The goods assist in identifying the gender and age of the deceased: 6 were adults and one a child (to whom the bell belonged), and at least 3 of the adults were men, perhaps of military or other official rank to judge from the form of the buckles. The large quantity of lime in the upper level supports the view that the victims of some epidemic were buried together in an existing and spacious grave. The tomb generally dates to the 6th and 7th Cts AD.
Tomb III, which is partially destroyed, lies SE of tomb II and parallel to tomb I. It is a built family tomb, of the same dimensions, construction and orientation as tomb 1. It was probably a chamber tomb, but there is insufficient evidence for the form of the roof. It contained 5 contemporary burials. Three skeletons were found along the S long side; traces of a 4th cranium, with part of a bronze earring above it, were observed in the NW corner. This skeleton must have been laid along the N wall and was mostly destroyed when the tomb was damaged. A 5th, smaller and more delicate cranium was found at roughly the level of the waist of the 2nd skeleton; it appears to belong to a small child buried beside its mother. The grave goods were mostly found buried beneath the collapsed tomb walls on the N, W and S sides, with personal items inside or around the crania. Sherds from 7 plainware vessels were collected, along with bronze and silver jewellery (one silver and 4 bronze earrings, one bronze and 2 silver pins, part of a bronze necklace, a silver coin used as a pendant, 2 bronze probes, a small bronze bell and many small iron rings probably from a belt). Inside cranium 2 was a bronze 20 nummus coin of the reign of the Emperor Phokas (602-610) from the mint of Constantinople, which gives a secure tpq of the E7th Ct AD for the tomb itself.

Tombs I and III were at the same d., and set parallel to each other, 0.3m apart. They are simple constructions of approximately the same dimensions. Tomb II, however, is larger and belongs to a particular category of vaulted tomb with steps down from the entrance which appears in the 6th Ct. It is a more elaborate and costly structure, and this, together with the notable grave goods, indicates that those buried there were members of a prominent local family.

E of tomb III, a wall may be part of a destroyed 4th tomb, since there is a large quantity of brick and tile (much of which has similar finger impressions), lime plaster, sherds of combed ware and bone. In the surrounding area part of a curved stone wall was excavated, plus sections of road of different periods. Finally, an extensive pyre was revealed, with portable finds which seem to date it earlier than the ECh period. The discovery of at least 3 family tombs at this site reinforces the hypothesis that there was a permanent settlement somewhere in the wider area in ECh times. It complements the discovery of a 6th Ct vaulted tomb at Pyrgiakoni, an E7th Ct vaulted tomb at Perani and ECh tombs at Ag. Dimitrios and Ag. Athanasios, near Aianteio.