Megara - 2009

Megara, Kallimachos Street, O.T. 622, property of N. and G. Molou. Panagiota Avgerinou (Γ ΕΠΚΑ) reports on the discovery of a number of graves located in the northern cemetery of the ancient city.

Grave 1: sarcophagus, oriented NS, with dimensions 2.06 x 0.73m. A few bones towards the edges.

Grave 2: sarcophagus, oriented EW, with dimensions 1.10 x 0.71m. A few post-Geometric period sherds.

Grave 3: sarcophagus, oriented EW, with dimensions 1.35 x 0.60 x 0.57m. One poorly preserved skeleton in supine position. 118 perfume containers, one jug, and an iron strigil.

Grave 4: sarcophagus covered with two slabs, oriented NS, with dimensions 1.93 x 0.58 x 0.56m. Two jugs, one fragmentary skyphos, 30 perfume containers, nine small buckles. 2nd century BC. A small figurine was collected from nearby.

Grave 5: sarcophagus, oriented NS, with dimensions 1.81 x 0.66 x 0.56m. Skeleton in supine extended position with head to S, poorly preserved. Kantharos, 25 perfume containers, silver coin. 3rd-2nd century BC.

Grave 6: sarcophagus covered with two slabs, oriented EW, with dimensions 1.99 x 0.62 x 0.62m. Skeleton in supine position with head to E. Amphora and fragments of three perfume containers. Bronze fastening, bronze coin, fragments of a figurine, five beads, and iron buckles. 3rd-2nd century BC.

Graves 7 and 8: Grave 7 constituted a concentration of bones over the E of Grave 9, found beside an aryballoid lekythoid with red-painted chest of the 4th century BC. Grave 8 constituted a bone accumulation in the S ditch between Graves 4 and 5. Three or four skull pieces, beside miniature oinochoe and iron sheet.

Grave 9: sarcophagus, oriented EW with dimensions 1.85 x 0.36 x 0.44m. Only the skull and one other bone remained.

Grave 10: sarcophagus covered with three slabs, oriented EW, with dimensions 1.99 x 0.59 x 0.57m. Skeleton in supine extended position with skull to E. Nine perfume containers and a silver coin. 3rd-2nd century BC.

Grave 11: an accumulation of bones in a ditch W of Grave 10, including a skull. Miniature lamp and perfume container.

Grave 12: sarcophagus, oriented EW with dimensions 1.87 x 0.53 x 0.47m. Skeleton in supine extended position with skull to E and arms parallel to body. Gold coin near the skull with the image of an owl. 19 perfume containers, two jugs, bronze mirror, iron fragments.

Grave 13: cist grave, oriented EW, with dimensions 1.91 x 0.56 x 0.60m. Infant skeleton in extended supine position with skull to E and hands by side of body. Two jugs, one jar, 17 perfume containers, skyphos fragment, four eggs, 25 gaming pieces, bronze nail and silver coin. 3rd-2nd century BC.

Grave 14: sarcophagus fragments from inside a pit.

Grave 15: traces of bone and Laconian tiles. With oinochoe.

Grave 16: sarcophagus, oriented EW, with dimensions 0.55 x 0.61m. No bones.

Grave 17: sarcophagus, oriented NS, with dimensions 2.01 x 0.59m. Skeleton in supine extended position with skull to S. Iron pieces, aryballoid lekythos with geometric pattern and white paint, two silver coins. 4th-2nd century BC.

Grave 18: Disturbed fragmentary skeletal remains found to S of plot. Perfume container also found.

Grave 19: sarcophagus, oriented NS, with dimensions 2.10 x 0.76m. Commingled skeleton remains.

Grave 20: sarcophagus covered with two slabs, oriented NW, with dimensions 1.77 x 0.50 x 0.58m. Skeleton in supine occlusal position, with skull facing E and knees S.

Grave 21: sarcophagus, oriented NS, with dimensions 2.20 x 0.71m. No bones. Three perfume containers, pieces of relief skyphoi. End of the 2nd-start of the 1st century BC.

Grave 22: sarcophagus, oriented NS, with dimensions 1.92 x 0.56m. Skeleton in supine position with skull to S.

Grave 23: sarcophagus fragments, oriented EW.

Grave 24: sarcophagus base, oriented EW, with dimensions 1.98 x 0.77m.

Grave 25: sarcophagus base, oriented EW, with dimensions 1.94 x 0.74m. Large amount of Hellenistic period pottery, bronze coins and figurine fragments. First half of 3rd century BC. Also glazed sherds of the 13th and 14th centuries.