PARASPORIA, Karyoti - 2003

Parasporia, Karyoti (Stavraka property). Y. Phaklari (ΙΒ' ΕΠΚΑ) reports on excavation of a tomb group on the northwest edge of the south cemetery of Leukas, at a site in the southern foothills of the Koulmos hill, close to the sites of Aftantes (to the south) and Spasmeni Vrysi (to the east). Twenty nine tombs were excavated, plus three further cist graves of the edge of the area. These tombs were in two groups: 11 graves on the same orientation, scattered across the area, contained offerings of the late sixth-fifth and fourth centuries (including black-figure lekythoi and black-glaze kylikes), while a second group of 18 graves, on a different orientation and tightly grouped, contain offerings of the third to second centuries BC. Graves of both periods were of the standard types - 14 cist graves, 11 tile graves, and two pits, a small undecorated terracotta larnax which likely held a child burial, and a black-glazed amphora as a cinerary urn. Around half of the graves contained a single burial, while the remainder were re-used for further burials, and in several cases, black-glazed amphorae or limestone kalpes containing cremations were added to the grave. Five such stone vessels were found, one of which bore floral decoration and another the name of the deceased. A typical tomb (cist grave 6) contained two limestone kalpes, two cinerary amphorae and four interments; and cist tomb 35 contained 5 stone kalpes and three interments. All burials were richly furnished: 140 ceramic vessels were recovered, 22 intact gold wreaths plus many fragments, 1 gold danake, 4 bronze coins, 14 iron strigils, an iron dagger with its sheath, bronze discs from mirrors and other bronze items.