Αγ. Αθανάσιος 1995 : ο τρίτος ταφικός τύμβος
Part of : Το Αρχαιολογικό Έργο στη Μακεδονία και στη Θράκη ; Vol.9, No.1, 1995, pages 301-310
Issue:
Pages:
301-310
Parallel Title:
Ayos Athanassios 1995 : the third tumulus
Author:
Abstract:
IIn the summer of 1995, the 3rd tumulus in the Ayos Athanassios area was excavated, about 600 m SE of the large tumulus that had been investigated in 1994. Like the others, an official archaeological site, but on public land open to all, the tumulus had suffered the keen attentions of tomb robbers in the past; a considerable amount of sand had also been stolen from it, so that it was much reduced in shape and size. The experience of previous years suggested that it would probably be easy to excavate, but there were some surprises in store.The first trench in the E side revealed that the surface layer contained numerous pit-graves with an eastward orientation, most of them without burial offerings. The tumulus apparently offered a convenient site for a Middle Byzantine cemetery, as a small group of bronze jewellery typical of that period indicates.The E side also yielded a built chest of the early 3rd c. BC, containing the remains of a young man’s funeral pyre in a small wooden box, together with a gold olive wreath.Another trench, towards the centre of the tumulus, eventually revealed the principal monument, another Macedonian tomb with a dromos, this time facing N. It is a simple single-chambered structure, 4.90 m high, with no trace of plaster, and also with no problem with statics. All the skill and mastery of the Macedonian craftsmen is reflected in the faultlessly jointed and assiduously smoothed blocks of stone, even though some points on the façade were left unworked. Although it has been ransacked more than once, the excavational data and the architectural form suggest that the monument may be dated to c. the late 4th or early 3rd c. BC.
Subject:
Subject (LC):
Keywords:
Τάφοι, Θεσσαλονίκη, συνέδρια
Notes:
Περιέχει κατόψεις, σχέδια και εικόνες
