Salamis - 2009

Salamis, Ambelakia. Andromache Kapetanopoulou (ΚΣΤ ΕΠΚΑ) reports on work undertaken during the construction of the new ΔΕΗ low- and medium-voltage network. In the sector of highway that begins at the junction with Vienna Street and runs for 1000m, antiquities were found in six locations, including 19 graves, five stelai, two cippi, and a stone base. Most of the burials date of the Classical period. The cemetery, which extends outside the wall to the W and NW continued to be used into the Roman period.

Eleftherios Venizelos Street, outside the post office. Two marble inscribed stele were found, and an inscribed cippus.

106 Eleftherios Venizelos Street. Three graves were found: a tiled-roof grave (Grave 1), a stone sarcophagus (Grave 2), and a stone vessel with cover (Grave 3). Grave 1 and Grave 2 (Fig. 1) were almost parallel and oriented NS. To the W of Grave 2 there was a stone cylindrical box with a stopper. Between Graves 1 and 2 there were three marble stele (Stones 2, 3 and 5), a cippus (Stone 1) and a stone base (Stone 4). The cippus was inscribed with a name, patronymic, and hometown of the deceased, under which there was elaborate decoration. Grave 1 was covered by four Corinthian tiles, and had dimensions 1.70 x 0.50m. Bones were found inside in supine position with the head to NS, alongside six iron nails, a bronze rod, and two clay perfume containers. The S side of Grave 2 was best preserved, and included a slab measuring 0.80 x 0.50 m. The bones of a woman in supine position were found inside, with the head to the S. Grave goods included a red-figure pyxis with cover, depicting a seated woman in ornate dress with jewellery (Fig. 2). Eros stands opposite her, rendered in white and in a feminine form. Five beads were also found, two made from clear rock crystal and three from Sard stone (Fig. 3). Near the bones there were eight small clay plaques, a bronze mirror, a stone alabaster, a clay alabaster, off-white fabric, and bronze fragments. The grave seems to date from the last quarter of the fifth century BC Grave 3 was a stone vessel with cover, and contained a small vessel and clay alabaster (Fig. 4).

Eleftherios Venizelos Street and Sikinos Street. Three burials were found. The first was a tiled-roof burial oriented NS, that could not be investigated owing to overlying cables. The other two seem to have been disturbed in previous construction work, but each show evidence for the presence of pyres, including large areas of burning.

104 Eleftherios Venizelos Street. Six graves were found. Grave 1 was a sarcophagus containing 45 bones (Fig. 5), a bronze strigil, a bronze buckle, and a red-figure aryballos-shaped lekythos depicting a winged figure. Grave 2 was an amphora-burial oriented EW. To the W, there was a cluster of four tiled-roof graves. Grave 3, oriented NS, with dimensions 1.20 x 0.50m. Bones were preserved with the skull to the S. Finds included an iron nail. Grave 4, oriented NS, with dimensions 1.54 x 0.63m. Bones in supine position with head to N. Finds included six iron nails, one clay object, and a lead sheet. Grave 5, oriented NS, with dimensions 2 x 0.70m. Limited bone preservation, with the head to S. Finds included five iron nails, and iron strigil, and a perfume container. Grave 6, oriented NS, with dimensions 2 x 0.63m. Limited bone preservation, with the head oriented S.

98 Eleftherios Venizelos Street. Seven burials were found Grave 1, oriented NS, with dimensions 1.98 x 0.50m. No bones were found, but finds included two trefoil oinochoai, two perfume containers, a relief skyphos, a bronze mirror, six iron nails, and six bronze rings (Fig. 6-9). Grave 2, oriented NW, with dimensions 1.50 x 0.55m. Grave 3, oriented SW, with dimensions 1.82 x 0.55m. A broken bronze ring and two iron nails were found. Grave 4, oriented NS, with dimensions 0.57 x 0.61m. Some fragments of the skull were found, a perfume container, and 16 iron nails. Grave 5, for which only the northern boundary was found. Grave 6 (sarcophagus), for which the southern side was found but could not be investigated further. Grave 7 (pyre), oriented SE, with dimensions 0.45 x 0.40m.

70 Eleftherios Venizelos Street. Remains of a Classical period building were found, including foundation walls, and two stone-lined wells. A rectangular grave of the Late Roman period was also found, with dimensions 2.90 x 1.40m. Inside the grave, there were human and animal bones (possibly horse) seven vessels and bronze pieces.

Themistokles Coast. Three points of interest were located in this area. i) 100m from the junction with the highway, a broken stone block was found measuring 1.30 x 0.62 x 0.40m, and associated Classical sherds. ii) 12.9m N of the previous area, two SW-NE sections of wall were identified, 1.06 x 0.48m and 1.40 x 0.90m in length; Classical period sherds were found. iii) 61.2m N of the previous area, a wall section was found oriented EW, with length 1.20 x 0.80m.