Megara. Intersection of Thebes Street and an unnamed road, O.T. 623 - 2012
General Information
Record ID
8544
Activity Date
2012
Chronologies
Keywords
Type of Operation
Institution
Localisation / Geographical Information
Toponym
Megara
Megara
Linked Record
2012
Report
Megara. Intersection of Thebes Street and an unnamed road, O.T. 623. (Γ’ ΕΠΚΑ) reports on the discovery of fourteen graves, many of which date to the Roman period.
Area 1 was defined by a walls to the W and S, the space inside which was 2.80 x 3.10 m
Grave 1: child burial in a cist grave, oriented N/NE. Two bronze bracelets and rings. Mid 6th century BC.
Grave 2: Disturbed, but probably one of the later graves.
Grave 3: Burnt vessel, in which bones were found.
Grave 4: Cist grave, containing remains of four individuals. The final skeleton was placed in supine position with head to E. Two glass bottles, three clay vessels, clay cup with vertical handle. Bronze coins and iron nail. First or secondary century AD.
Grave 5: Infant burial in reused beehive. First or second century AD.
Grave 6: Adult in trapezoidal trench, covered over with tiles. Poor preservation of bones.
Grave 7: Adult burial in cist grave, in supine position oriented to E. Poor preservation of bones. Thought to be contemporary with grave 4; a bronze Athenian coin of the first century AD was also found.
Grave 8: Stone sarcophagus. Perfume container of the first century AD. A few bones, including skull facing S. First century AD.
Grave 9: Stone sarcophagus, showing signs of reuse. The latest skeleton was in supine position, with skull to SW of grave. Bones in good state of preservation. At its feet and head were bones from other adults and children. Two glass bottles, fragments of glass, two bronze coins and iron nail. From an older burial, there were two whole glass jars, 12 bronze coins and a bronze pin. First century AD.
Grave 10: Sarcophagus, in which shallow grooves indicate a wooden coffin might have been laid. Remains of one adult, skull to S. Two alabasters (one of which was broken). Contemporary with grave 12.
Grave 11: Cist grave with four cover slabs. Skeleton in supine position with skull facing SE, preserved to height of 1.5m. Two perfume jars, one located near the skull, one near the feet. Second or first century BC.
Grave 12: Sarcophagus, in which shallow grooves indicate a wooden coffin might have been laid. Remains of child, skull to S, preserved to height 1.45m. Lagunos placed at feet, 22 perfume containers, 48 spindle whirls (6 of which were next to the skull), and 42 along left side of deceased. 18 trefoil gold leaves, bronze spatula and possible pieces of silver. Minimal pottery. First century BC to first century AD.
Grave 13: Sarcophagus with three cover slabs. Adolescent male skeleton, in supine position with skull to S. 1.47m. Parts of the skull from another individual found around the lower parts of the body. Dating uncertain.
Grave 14: Rectangular burial trench, 1.80 x 0.74m. Skeleton probably male, in supine position, length 1.34m. Small metal pieces and nail. Probably earlier than grave 13.
There was also located a pile of human bones from N end of grave 9, and a small trench with loose skeletal material on the N side of grave 9.
Area 1 was defined by a walls to the W and S, the space inside which was 2.80 x 3.10 m
Grave 1: child burial in a cist grave, oriented N/NE. Two bronze bracelets and rings. Mid 6th century BC.
Grave 2: Disturbed, but probably one of the later graves.
Grave 3: Burnt vessel, in which bones were found.
Grave 4: Cist grave, containing remains of four individuals. The final skeleton was placed in supine position with head to E. Two glass bottles, three clay vessels, clay cup with vertical handle. Bronze coins and iron nail. First or secondary century AD.
Grave 5: Infant burial in reused beehive. First or second century AD.
Grave 6: Adult in trapezoidal trench, covered over with tiles. Poor preservation of bones.
Grave 7: Adult burial in cist grave, in supine position oriented to E. Poor preservation of bones. Thought to be contemporary with grave 4; a bronze Athenian coin of the first century AD was also found.
Grave 8: Stone sarcophagus. Perfume container of the first century AD. A few bones, including skull facing S. First century AD.
Grave 9: Stone sarcophagus, showing signs of reuse. The latest skeleton was in supine position, with skull to SW of grave. Bones in good state of preservation. At its feet and head were bones from other adults and children. Two glass bottles, fragments of glass, two bronze coins and iron nail. From an older burial, there were two whole glass jars, 12 bronze coins and a bronze pin. First century AD.
Grave 10: Sarcophagus, in which shallow grooves indicate a wooden coffin might have been laid. Remains of one adult, skull to S. Two alabasters (one of which was broken). Contemporary with grave 12.
Grave 11: Cist grave with four cover slabs. Skeleton in supine position with skull facing SE, preserved to height of 1.5m. Two perfume jars, one located near the skull, one near the feet. Second or first century BC.
Grave 12: Sarcophagus, in which shallow grooves indicate a wooden coffin might have been laid. Remains of child, skull to S, preserved to height 1.45m. Lagunos placed at feet, 22 perfume containers, 48 spindle whirls (6 of which were next to the skull), and 42 along left side of deceased. 18 trefoil gold leaves, bronze spatula and possible pieces of silver. Minimal pottery. First century BC to first century AD.
Grave 13: Sarcophagus with three cover slabs. Adolescent male skeleton, in supine position with skull to S. 1.47m. Parts of the skull from another individual found around the lower parts of the body. Dating uncertain.
Grave 14: Rectangular burial trench, 1.80 x 0.74m. Skeleton probably male, in supine position, length 1.34m. Small metal pieces and nail. Probably earlier than grave 13.
There was also located a pile of human bones from N end of grave 9, and a small trench with loose skeletal material on the N side of grave 9.
Author
Michael Loy
Bibliographic reference(s)
ADelt 69 (2014), Chr., 101-6
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Date of creation
2020-07-31 09:45:46
Last modification
2025-07-15 09:56:21
Picture(s)
Fig. 1/ Plan of the excavation
Fig. 2/ View of the burial area from E