KECHRINIA - 2010

Kechrinia, Valtou (Mega Vouni). The ΛΣτ’ ΕΠΚΑ reports the discovery of a Mycenaean tholos tomb on a small plateau in the foothills of Mega Vouni. The tomb was oriented northwest-southeast. The chamber was 3.4m in diameter and preserved to a height of 1.65m (Figs 1-2): the 3.5m-long dromos (of which only a small part close to the chamber was excavated) was covered by slabs.The chamber was corbelled, and the vault had collapsed leaving the interior full of construction material. The maximum preserved height is 1.65m. The floor was covered in small river pebbles: on it was a very small quantity of pottery and bone. The contents of the chamber were in complete disarray, making it impossible to identify individual burial assemblages.

A large quantity of pottery was collected (mostly sherds rather than more complete vessels): the quality of the fabric is poor, most vessels undecorated, with traces of paint or decoration preserved in very few cases. While most vessels were wheelmade, there are a few examples of handmade ware. Most vessels date to LH IIIA1, when the most typical shapes are small squat alabastra (FS 84), squat jugs (FS 87), and jugs (FS 105 and 110). Piriform jars and three-handled jars, as well as rounded alabastra, represent a later use phase (LH IIIA2-B). A kater sherd (FS 7) dates to LH IIIB. The decorative repertoire was very limited: concentric circles on the alabastra, one instance of rock pattern, cross hatching, and on one squat jug (FS 87), a spiral (FM 51). Few examples date to LH IIIA2-B: small stirrup jars, large kylikes, alabastra (round and squat), and pirifiorm jars. Very little pottery dates to LH IIIC: a krater with painted decoration, a two-handled round alabastron and a tripod vessel. The little handmade pottery, while hard to date, falls into two categories: imitations of Mycenaean forms (dippers and jugs), and local coarseware (cups, pithoid vessels with pointed bases, and chytra-like forms). The tripod vessels and dippers show connections with Kephallonia, while the handmade wares have more general connections with Epirus. At least three kalathos-like vessels are of a rare form likely continuing from Middle Helladic. The tomb also contained three spindle whorls, three nuggets of bronze, and pieces of chipped stone tools.

The tomb belongs to the northwest Greek group, where tombs are relatively small and the covered dromos leads directly into the chamber without further architectural embellishment. Analogous examples have been found at Ag. Ilias (Ithoria), Palaiomanina, Loutraki, and Kiperi near Parga.