Spathes
Among the first archaeological sites to be discovered in Olympus was the excavation site Spathes ( Greek Σπάθες swords ). It is a necropolis from the late Bronze Age . The oldest graves are from the 14th century BC. Archaeologists found the last traces of use from the end of the 13th century and beginning of the 12th century BC. BC The settlement belonging to the necropolis has not yet been found. Many of the grave goods were made in the Mycenaean style, so that the Mycenaean culture has probably also expanded there (see also Pieria's history and archeology ) across the border from Thessaly to Pieria .
location
The site near the village of Agios Dimitrios, which belongs to the municipality of Katerini, is located on a steep western slope of the Olympus massif at an altitude of 1000 to 1100 meters, from where one overlooks an important mountain pass between Thessaly and Macedonia. The location of the necropolis on a high slope with a wide horizon is remarkable. There are no known settlements from that time in the vicinity. The graves are laid out from the northeast to the southwest.
Excavation history
In 1975 the responsible archaeological authority was informed that several (at least 12 to 13) graves were destroyed when a firebreak was cut. At that time a bronze dagger and a bronze sword were found, but they were lost. Further information revealed that the grave goods were traded. Under the direction of Eftychia Poulaki-Pandermali from the 27th Ephoria for Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities , a trial excavation was carried out in 1985, which was continued in 1986. The excavations uncovered 34 graves, some of which were destroyed and looted. Some of the stolen goods were later found in the warehouse of the Archaeological Museum in Dion . In 1985 some of the stone slabs that had covered the graves were stolen by strangers. Part of the slope was caused to slide by heavy snowfall. In 1987 and 1988 the slope was terraced and stabilized by a wooden structure. The terraces were later supported by massive masonry, and some graves were stabilized with concrete surrounds. To protect the graves from the weather, some of them were provided with a roof structure.
In 1987, near the Spathes excavation site, more graves were discovered on site, which presumably date from the same era. Six stone seals were recovered from them, no further excavations took place.
necropolis
As is customary in this region of Greece at the end of the Bronze Age, the deceased were buried in box-shaped graves; this type of grave is known from southern Greece. The length of the graves is around 2.40 meters, the width 1.50 meters and the depth between 1.00 and 2.50 meters. The floor of the graves was covered with a 10 to 20 centimeter high layer of clay, the side walls were carefully bordered with heavy stone slabs. Except for penetrating roots and natural deposits of building materials, the graves were intact. The number of burials found in the intact graves is 52. The graves had been repeatedly opened for new burials, including children.
Finds
In addition to weapons and jewelry, mainly pottery was added to the deceased; however, due to the way several people were buried within one grave, some of them were broken. The vessels were mostly made by hand, only a few were modeled with a potter's wheel. The most significant finds were made in a tomb in which apparently leading figures had been buried. Two skeletons, a male and a female, were next to rich grave goods. Remains of a spear, a bronze sword, painted and unpainted vases and perfume bottles, jewelry and stone seals (some with animal motifs) were recovered. The sword is a bit smaller, but its design is similar to swords found in Mycenae and Crete ( Knossos , Heraklion ). A bronze sword that was found in another grave is of the same design as swords that were discovered in Athens , Crete, Kos and other sites. A similar sword was recently found during excavations on the southeast side of Mount Olympus, west of Platamonas .
literature
- Eftychia Poulaki-Pandermali [Ευτυχία Πουλάκη-Παντερμαλή]: Ανασκαφή Αγίου Δημητρίου Ολύμπου. In: Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Macedonia and Thrace, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (ed.): Το Αρχαιολογικό Έργο στη Μακεδονία και Θράκη. [ To Archeologikó Érgo sti Makedonía ke Thráki. ] Volume 1, 1987, Thessaloniki 1988, pp. 201-208. (Greek)
- Eftychia Poulaki-Pandermali [Ευτυχία Πουλάκη-Παντερμαλή]: Ανασκαφές του Αγίου Δημητρίου Ολύμπου. In: Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Macedonia and Thrace, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (ed.): Το Αρχαιολογικό Έργο στη Μακεδονία και Θράκη. [ To Archeologikó Érgo sti Makedonía ke Thráki. ] Volume 2, 1988, Thessaloniki 1991, pp. 173-180. (Greek)
- Efi Poulaki-Pandermali [Έφη Πουλάκη-Παντερμαλή]: Σπάθες – Ξερολάκκι περιοχής Αγίου Δημητρίου, Στενά της Πέτρας. In: Ministry of Culture and Sport, 27. Ephorie for Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities (ed.): Μακεδονικός Όλυμπος. Μύθος – Ιστορία – Αρχαιολογία. [ Makedonikós Ólymbos. Mýthos – Istoría – Archeología. ] Thessaloniki 2013, ISBN 978-960-386-110-2 , pp. 53-62. (Greek)
Remarks
- ↑ Efi Poulaki-Pandermali: Makedonikos Olympos. Mýthos – Istoría – Archeología. 2013, pp. 56, 59. (Greek)
- ↑ Efi Poulaki-Pandermali: Makedonikos Olympos. Mýthos – Istoría – Archeología. 2013, p. 56. (Greek); Eftychia Poulaki-Pandermali: Ανασκαφή Αγίου Δημητρίου Ολύμπου. 1998, p. 200. (Greek)
- ↑ Efi Poulaki-Pandermali: Makedonikos Olympos. Mýthos – Istoría – Archeología. 2013, p. 54 (Greek)
- ^ Social Status as Reflected through Metal Objects Found in Archaic Burials from Macedonia. Retrieved July 15, 2018 .
Coordinates: 40 ° 8 ′ 49 ″ N , 22 ° 14 ′ 15 ″ E