ANCIENT KROMNA - Perdikaria - 2004

Perdikaria, Xylokeriza (land of S. Phydabani). V. Tassinos (ΛΖ’ ΕΠΚΑ) reports the discovery of an early Classical cemetery with 17 limestone sarcophagi set into pits opened in the soft limestone bedrock (with a stone packing around them). Most were lined with white stucco. Seven (7, 8, 12, 14, 15, 16 and 17) were found intact; in three cases (4, 9 and 13) the cover slabs had been partially destroyed by a mechanical digger but the contents remained intact; one was recently looted (1); and the remaining six (2, 3, 5, 6, 10 and 11) had been destroyed by a mechanical digger and probably then looted, since occasional grave offerings remained. The most common offerings were Corinthian and Attic-Boiotian vases of the first half of the fifth century (skyphoi, lekanides, oinochoae, lekythoi, kylikes and kotyles). Skeletal remains were at best very poorly preserved: six children are securely identified, while many of the rest could be sub-adults. The tombs were closely packed together, but with no consistent orientation.