Mavra Litharia, Roman cemetery, West Corinth - 2014

Mavra Litharia, Roman cemetery, West Corinth. Konstantinos Kissas (LZ’ EPKA) reports on the continuation of the excavations in the cemetery, which was carved on the side of the hill, with the graves 40-53 (Fig. 1).  
Grave no. 44 (Fig. 2) was arched and was similar to previously found graves one-seven.  It had two chambers, of which the S one contained graves no. 38, 39, previously excavated, and graves no. 45, 46. Grave no. 45 (Fig. 3) (NE-SW) was carved on the S wall of the S chamber. It was arched, the lower parts of the walls were plastered, it was similarly constructed with the graves no. 38 and 39, and inside it, the excavations revealed a partially preserved narrow-bottomed amphora. The E side of the grave was sealed with two vertically placed slabs. It contained five burials, in two layers: burials one and two were on top and burials three, four and five were below. Burial one, three, four and five were laid out in an extended position, whereas burial two was a free. The grave goods were 3 lychnoi (oil lamps), one of which bears a raised depiction, three bronze coins and two bone pins.

Grave no. 46 (Fig. 4) was similarly constructed, sealed on the N with two vertically placed stone slabs. A burial was located in the disturbed higher levels, and five burials (extended position) were revealed in the lower levels. Three bronze coins, one glass vessel, two bone pins and one gold earring were found as grave goods. 

The N chamber was constructed with rubble masonry and clay slabs on the higher parts of walls, with soil as bonding mortar. 

In the SE corner, grave no. 40 was revealed. It was a cist grave, covered with clay slabs, and it contained a child burial, with no grave goods. Right next to it, on the E, grave no. 41 can be found, which only presented some small parts of human remains, found in the soil removed, as happened with cist grave no. 47. 

Arched grave no. 48 (Fig. 5) was revealed on the W side of grave no. 44, and they were both engraved in the natural rock, with the arches formed of the natural stone walls. Below these arches, three graves were formed (graves no. 49, 50, 51) and two graves were engraved on the floor of the chamber (graves no. 52, 53). The arched roof must have been covered with clay bricks and bonding mortar. One clay lychnos (oil lamp), one bronze coin, one lead rod and pottery sherds. 

Grave no. 49 was carved on the E wall of the chamber, and it was plundered. It was a rectangular cist pit – grave, carved on the natural rock and inside it a bronze mirror was revealed. 

Grave no. 50 was also a pit-grave and it was covered with a yellow-tinted soft sand-stone covering slab. It was also plundered. The excavations revealed one narrow-bottomed amphora, fragments of a figurine, one bronze coin, pottery sherds and one bronze nail. 

Grave no. 51 was carved on the W wall, below an arch and it was covered with a shell-stone covering slab. It contained a child burial in an extended position. A tear vessel and a glass perfume vessel were revealed, as well as a bronze bell, a clay lychnos and a bronze coin. 

Grave no. 52 is carved on the floor (Fig. 6) and it contained five burials, four bronze coins, two glass perfume vessels and a lychnos with a handle, which bears raised decoration and inscription. Grave no. 53 is similarly constructed, and, possibly because it was plundered, contained no grave goods, except some pottery sherds and a clay lychnos with a handle.

[Entry created by E. Kourti]