KLEIDI - 2006

Kleidi. A. Strati and A. Sinakos (16th EBA) report on the rescue excavation of part of a LRom- ECh cemetery (M3rd−M4th Ct AD) in an area threatened by lignite mining. The adjacent settlement, next to the via Egnatia, produced Rom to post-Byz pottery on the surface. Within a single 20 x 20m trench, 15 graves were found − 12 pits and 3 cists. The dead were laid out in N−S orientation, accompanied by many grave goods including trefoil-mouthed oinochoai, bronze jewellery and coins. In addition to Charon’s obol, hoards of 20−25 coins were found in certain cases, placed in the area of the head or the chest. Seven pits were also found. 20m S of the excavated area, a trial trench contained further human bones, tiles, sherds of wheelmade vessels, a loomweight and an iron object. Excavation here was abandoned for safety reasons.