Salamis - 2009

Salamis, 118 Eleftherios Venizelos Street (O.T. 62, public library plot). Andromache Kapetanopoulou (ΚΣΤ ΕΠΚΑ) reports on the discovery of an ancient road and a cemetery comprising one cist grave and seven other burials.

Ancient road: The N section is dated to 4^th century BC (Wall 1)., and is 6.50m x 0.50m, made from large stones measuring 6 x 2m. In the SE area of the trench, sections of a later period road were found, made of limestone.

Burial enclosure: In the area north of the ancient road, an enclosure in the shape of a Π was located (Wall 2), comprising three stone blocks. Inside there was one NS oriented cist grave (Grave 1) with dimensions 2.13 x 2.70m. built from regular cut poros. Inside the grave there were skeleton remains with a skull to N. Next to the right side were three iron nails.

Between the enclosure wall and Grave 1, there was a 0.60m destruction deposit, comprising:

• Five bronze coins, one of which displayed Glaucus’ and Athena’s heads and is dated to 295 BC
• Fragments of two kantharoi, and two handle fragments with plastic head decorations
• Fragments of the neck of a large amphora
• Stone pellets
• Fragments of perfume vessels
• The upper section of a marble tombstone

North of the ancient road in a NW orientation 9m x 0.60m/0.74m, Wall 3 was found. This structure had two building phases. The older section is to W, is constructed of larger stones, and probably dates to the fifth century BC The wall then extended SW, coming into contact with two graves: Grave 7 (from which the bones of a supine individual were found with the head to E, along with two iron nails and a lead plate), and the tiled-roof Grave 8 (located between Walls 2 and 3).

Between the ancient road and Wall 3, three more burials were found (two pyres, and one tiled-roof burial):

Pyre 2: Oriented NW-N, measuring 1.70 x 0.90 m. Few charred bones and residues of burnt wood found.

Pyre 3: Located almost immediately W of the burial enclosure, and oriented NW. Maximum size 1.60 x 1.15m. The S part was obscured by a large slab; but the presence of two small stones in the NE and NW corners suggest the pyre was raised.

Grave 4: Tiled-roof grave oriented NW, with dimensions 2 x 1m. Few bones were found in a supine position with the skull to N. Three nails and a perfume vessel were found inside. A stone was found near the head, possibly used as a head restraint. This grave was partially destroyed by the construction of Pyre 2.

In the soil covering Grave 4 and Pyre 2 there was a small ellipsoid deposit 0.80 x 1.10m containing 15 vessels (panels, stoppers, fragments of kantharos), mostly broken. S of Wall 3 there was an extensive destruction layer containing:

• Fragments of a marble lion or dog statue
• Kantharos fragments
• Fragments from a large psevdoalabastro and other smaller psevdoalabastro fragments.

In the N of the plot two pyres were found in the NE, 8.50m from each other, and E of Wall 3.

Pyre 5: NE corner of excavation, oriented EW, with dimensions 2 x 1m. Charcoal and a few sherds.

Pyre 6: E boundary of the excavation, 6.90m SW of pyre 5. Oriented NW, with dimensions 1.90 x 0.90m. Charred bones, charcoal, several burnt sherds dating to the fifth century BC

It is thought that this plot relates to the continuation of a Classical and Hellenistic cemetery discovered and investigated in 2008 on the adjacent E. Mellios plot, and is part of the cemetery of the fortified city of Classical Salamis.