Kopani, Ioannina - 2008

Kopani, Ioannina. Christos Kleitsas, Eleni Kotzampopoulou and Angeliki Panatsi (ΑΙΗΣ / IB’ ΕΠΚΑ) report on excavations conducted at the cemetery of ancient Tomaros. 

Excavation proceeded via a grid of 5x5m squares, covering 1200 sqm, from which 350 sam were excavated. All soil removed was dry sieved. 

Area 1 (Fig. 1) contained a destruction deposit of bricks and a π-shaped burial enclosure, bounded by walls made from local limestone. Inside the enclosure Grave 1 was found, oriented NS with dimensions 2.04 x 1.25 m. It was made of two limestone slabs with no cover slab.

Area 2 (Fig. 2) was located between areas 3 and 1, with dimensions 5.30 x 6.70m. In the SW there was a stonepile, limestone slabs that might once have belonged to the graves. Sherds and metal objects were also found in this pile.

Area 3 (Fig. 3) was also a burial enclosure surrounded by walls, some of the building material from which was in secondary use. Three graves were found within the enclosure, cists without cover slabs, roughly 2.05 x 1.10m. A few bones and unpainted pottery were found inside. Grave 2 was reused in the late Roman period, and inside there were found seven silver coins and a corroded bronze coin of the later third century AD. The graves were found in the W part of the enclosure, while to the E there were some walls dating later.