435-448

Excavations in Finikas, Thessaloniki, 1987-2006 : twenty years of surprising discoveries

• Τσιμπίδου - Αυλωνίτη, Μαρία

In the spring of 1987, during excavations at the Finikas settlement, through a section crossed by the eastern Thessaloniki-Chalcidice ring road, there came to light an impressive 4th c. B.C. Macedonian tomb. After the excavation, an overpass covered the monument, creating the requisite conditions for the building of an underground space for visitors, which was opened to the public in September 2002.The façade of the monument is finished with particular care, with colored plaster which accents the architectural features of the Doric order. The width of the monument is 4.92 m., and its height is 5.68 m. The imposing entranceway was blocked by six boulders, and closed on the inside with a wooden double door. Eight deep blue triglyphs frame the white metopes, in which the depiction of a yellow- gold phiale appears repeatedly, while white palmettes and lotus leaves ornament the blue façade of the cornice. This decoration was completed by a painted scene with many figures on the pediment, which is unfortunately highly deteriorated. On the edges, two reclining Macedonian warriors are visible, framing the central scene of the so-called “Dexiosis” (handshake motif) of the deceased with an imposing seated figure. Some other less distinct male figures are moving in that direction, leading a mighty horse, whose presence indicates the high status of the deceased in society, and his rank as a horsman. The scene may be depicting the descent of the deceased into the Underworld.The burial chamber is 4 m. wide and 4.56 m. long. The walls are coated in bright yellow ochre, while the band at the springing of the gray-blue vault imitates an Ionic relief cornice. The internal arrangement, dominated by two stone pedestals set on rectaugular bases, is unique. The pedestals, with colorful painted cyma, meanders and palmettes against a black background, were used as supports for two wooden funerary couches with elaborate ivory decoration. They had been badly damaged by grave robbers, who removed the ossuary urns and scattered the cremated bones of the deceased, then opened the pedestals with crowbars. The picture of the space is completed by two stone benches with lions’ feet, used to hold grave goods. The bench to the left of the entrance, with the addition of unbaked bricks, was later used for the ad hoc burial of another individual.In spite of the plundering, research has revealed alabaster and clay vessels, a Thasian amphora, a gold coin of Philip II, a silver drachm of Alexander III near the third deceased, as well as evidence about the ivory decoration of the wooden couches. It has been confirmed that the monument was built in the fourth quarter of the 4th c. B.C. to receive the doubtlessly eminent deceased, possibly a “hetairos” (a companion) of the royal court and his wife.Next, research has revealed that the wider area falls within the borders of an extensive cemetery of classical and early Hellenistic times: east of the monument there rose a large burial mound, excavation ofwhich has revealed four more unplundered tombs. These included ossuary vessels -two of which were bronze situlae, exceptional examples of ancient Greek metalworking- with the remnents of the ritual cremations, along with interesting grave goods which date the burials to the first half of the 4th c. B.C.The archaeological picture of the area began to grow more diverse in 1999, with the rescue excavation for the erection of “Carrefour/Macedonia,” across from the Macedonian tomb. Unfortunately, only a small part of the cemetery has remained untouched by older earth removals: 57 unplundered graves were discovered, organized into groups, and quite richly endowed with grave goods dated between the early 4th and the mid-3rd c. B.C. The grave goods are dominated by clay vessels, both local and imported: sky- phoi, lekythoi, kantharoi, e.t.c. Female clay figurines accompanied many of the burials, both male and female. In the female graves, gold and bronze jewelry was found, chiefly bow-fibulae. In the male graves, a common find was two spearheads and bronze strigils. Two of the deceased were accompanied by bronze symposia vessels. It is particularly notable that most bore the a bronze coin as a price for the Underworld. There have been 29 coins identified, all minted by Macedonian kings, from Amyntas III (381-369 B.C.), Perdiccas III, Philip and Alexander the Great to Cas- sander and Antigonus Gonatas, a fact which indicates the continuous presence of Macedonians in this region.Similar data was recovered from two other rescue excavations, in 2005 and 2006, in neighboring plots, where a total of 25 other tombs were uncovered, also distributed throughout the 4th c. B.C. Of particular interest is the cist grave Τφ 4 (2005), dating to the end of the century, which, though plundered, retains some of its rich grave goods, such as small branches from agold myrtle wreath. The inferior retained painted decoration, where white tendrils growing out of acanthus leaves twist around against a deep blue background. This motif was popular in the iconography of funerary monuments, as the flowering tendril implies continual renewal and the triumph of life over death. Unfortunately, uncontrollable destructive earth removals in the wider area, and the great environmental transformation, have to date prevented the discovery of the ancient settlement with which this very important cemetery is associated.

• History and Archaeology

• Ανασκαφές (Αρχαιολογία)

Θεσσαλονίκη

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