Mageiras - 2008
General Information
Record ID
8325
Activity Date
2008
Chronology
Key-words
Type of Operation
Institution
Localisation
Toponym
Magiras
Magiras
Linked Record
Report
Mageiras. Olymbia Vikatou (Z’ ΕΠΚΑ) reports on continuing excavations at the Mycenaean cemetery (Fig. 1). Two more chamber tombs were investigated (5 and 6), which were identified by the excavator as belonging to high-ranking individuals, possibly soldiers.
Chamber tomb 5 was located centrally on the slopes of the hill where the other burials were identified. It consisted of a long dromos (16x2.50 m.) blocked with rubble, of which only the lower parts were preserved due to looting (Fig. 2). Excavation of the dromos produced large quantities of pottery including small amphorae, pseudo-mouthed amphorae, two and four handled amphorae, a rounded alabastron, kraters and kylikes. The entrance (1.70x1.45 m.) which consisted of a carved frame covered in deep red plaster was flanked by posts and located in the middle of the façade. The chamber was almost square (5.50x5.40 m.), while the roof (now collapsed) was 2.35 m. in height. There was a channel of 0.55 m. in width which crossed the floor of the chamber in a N-S direction, intersecting another on an E-W axis which ran along the northern wall of the chamber and was covered with small stones. The chamber contained multiple burials, including one in the eastern part which was still very richly furnished, despite the evidence for looting. Grave goods included bronze weapons (Fig. 3) and other objects as well as jewellery made of gold (Figs. 4, 5, 6, 10, 11) and semi-precious stones (Figs. 7, 8, 9). On the basis of jewellery, the burial has been attributed to Late Helladic IIIA2. A second burial may have been located in the north-western side of the chamber where a number of scattered beads and a gold seal were found (Fig. 12). Strewn across the floor of the chamber were gold particles, beads, glass plates and lead fragments which probably belonged to the burial bed. The pottery included kylikes, amphorae, alabastra, a rhyton, stirrup jars, piriform jars and lekanides, amongst others.
Chamber tomb 6 was located to the south of tomb 5 and consisted of a dromos of 12.20 m. in length, with a slight inclination towards the entrance and side walls converging upwards. Painted pottery and a pit burial were located within the dromos, while the entrance (2.52x1.24 m.) had an arched pivot stone. Both the dromos and entrance were sealed with a rubble wall. The chamber was almost square (6.12×5.50 m.) and 3.68 m. high. Along the western wall and close to the north-west corner was the grave of a soldier, furnished with a bronze lance, a Naue II type sword (Fig. 13), three gold rings and a few pots, dated to Late Helladic IIIC.
Two more pit burials were excavated in the chamber, one primary and the other secondary. Additional finds included gold particles, beads, a zoomorphic figurine, glass and semi-precious stone jewellery. The pottery included lekythia, amphorae, piriform jars, an alabastron and kylikes.
Chamber tomb 5 was located centrally on the slopes of the hill where the other burials were identified. It consisted of a long dromos (16x2.50 m.) blocked with rubble, of which only the lower parts were preserved due to looting (Fig. 2). Excavation of the dromos produced large quantities of pottery including small amphorae, pseudo-mouthed amphorae, two and four handled amphorae, a rounded alabastron, kraters and kylikes. The entrance (1.70x1.45 m.) which consisted of a carved frame covered in deep red plaster was flanked by posts and located in the middle of the façade. The chamber was almost square (5.50x5.40 m.), while the roof (now collapsed) was 2.35 m. in height. There was a channel of 0.55 m. in width which crossed the floor of the chamber in a N-S direction, intersecting another on an E-W axis which ran along the northern wall of the chamber and was covered with small stones. The chamber contained multiple burials, including one in the eastern part which was still very richly furnished, despite the evidence for looting. Grave goods included bronze weapons (Fig. 3) and other objects as well as jewellery made of gold (Figs. 4, 5, 6, 10, 11) and semi-precious stones (Figs. 7, 8, 9). On the basis of jewellery, the burial has been attributed to Late Helladic IIIA2. A second burial may have been located in the north-western side of the chamber where a number of scattered beads and a gold seal were found (Fig. 12). Strewn across the floor of the chamber were gold particles, beads, glass plates and lead fragments which probably belonged to the burial bed. The pottery included kylikes, amphorae, alabastra, a rhyton, stirrup jars, piriform jars and lekanides, amongst others.
Chamber tomb 6 was located to the south of tomb 5 and consisted of a dromos of 12.20 m. in length, with a slight inclination towards the entrance and side walls converging upwards. Painted pottery and a pit burial were located within the dromos, while the entrance (2.52x1.24 m.) had an arched pivot stone. Both the dromos and entrance were sealed with a rubble wall. The chamber was almost square (6.12×5.50 m.) and 3.68 m. high. Along the western wall and close to the north-west corner was the grave of a soldier, furnished with a bronze lance, a Naue II type sword (Fig. 13), three gold rings and a few pots, dated to Late Helladic IIIC.
Two more pit burials were excavated in the chamber, one primary and the other secondary. Additional finds included gold particles, beads, a zoomorphic figurine, glass and semi-precious stone jewellery. The pottery included lekythia, amphorae, piriform jars, an alabastron and kylikes.
Author
Michael Loy
Bibliographic reference(s)
ADelt 64 (2009) Chr., 376-380
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Date of creation
2020-06-02 13:11:09
Last modification
2024-01-17 09:46:16
Picture(s)
Fig. 1/ General view of the cemetery
Fig. 2/ Detailed view of the dromos and entrance to chamber grave 5
Fig. 3/ Bronze grave goods from the burial of a ‘soldier’, chamber grave 5
Fig. 4/ Gold jewellery from the burial of a ‘soldier’, chamber grave 5
Fig. 5/ Gold jewellery from the burial of a ‘soldier’, chamber grave 5
Fig. 6/ Gold jewellery from the burial of a ‘soldier’, chamber grave 5
Fig. 7/ Semi-precious stone jewellery from the burial of a ‘soldier’, chamber grave 5
Fig. 8/ Semi-precious stone jewellery from the burial of a ‘soldier’, chamber grave 5
Fig. 9/ Semi-precious stone jewellery from the burial of a ‘soldier’, chamber grave 5
Fig. 10/ Gold seal ring from the burial of a ‘soldier’, chamber grave 5
Fig. 11/ Gold Diadem from the burial of a ‘soldier’, chamber grave 5
Fig. 12/ Gold seal ring from the burial of a ‘soldier’, chamber grave 5
Fig. 13/ Grave goods from chamber grave 6