25-88

Late Minoan III tombs at Gra Lygia, Ierapetra

• Αποστολάκου,  Βίλη

In August 1992, during digging work on a rural plot of land at Gra Lygia, Ierapetra, two rock-cut chamber tombs were discovered in the southern slopes of a low hill at Arapi Skala, about 1 km. north- northwest of the modern settlement (drawing 2).The first of them came to light when the weight of the mechanical digger caused the collapse of part of its roof just to the west of the entrance, revealing its rich contents. During the archaeological excavation that was immediately carried out, a second tomb was discovered to the north of the first. By the time the second tomb was located, part of it had already been destroyed by the mechanical digger.It is now difficult to determine whether these tombs belonged to a large cemetery, since almost all the land around them is covered by hot-houses. The ancient settlement to which the tombs will have belonged has not yet been located.Both tombs (I and II) belong to the common type of chamber tombs cut into the soft, off-whit e, limestone (kouskoura). They each have an oval chamber with a vaulted roof, and a dromos.In tomb I were found two intact lamakes, one bathtub-shaped and one cist-shaped, another bathtubshaped larnax that was broken and has been reassembled at the workshop of M. Ay. Nikolaos, parts of two lids, one of which has been reassembled, forty-nine vases, an amulet and beads from a necklace, fragments of ivory plaques, pins and combs, a stone button, a bronze knife and two bronze daggers. The lamakes and pottery were dated to the LM IIIA2 and LM IIIB periods. Parts of skulls and bones that still bear the imprint of textiles are particularly interesting.In tomb II were found one bathtub-shaped lamax with the bones of two bodies in it, ten clay vases and a stone button. The pottery found next to the lamax was dated to the LM IIIA2 and LM IIIB periods.As in most LM tombs, the larger part of the grave offerings consists of pottery. Most of the 59 vases from the two tombs are stirrup jars. The o ther shapes in tomb I include 5 jugs of various sizes, 4 amphoroid kraters, 9 handleless conical cups of two types, 3 shallow bowls, 1 amphora, 1 champagne cup, 1 ladle and 1 stand. The ten vases in tomb II consist of 2 jugs, 1 fragment of a double vase, 1 kalathos, 1 three-handled palace-style jar, 1 two-handled spouted cup and 1 incense-burner. The excellently preserved stand and the two cups-rhyta from tomb I and the incense-burner from tomb II are particularly interesting. Amongst the pottery were identified products from the well-known West Crete workshop and from the workshop at Episkopi, and also an import from mainland Greece.

• History and Archaeology

• Αρχαιολογία
• Ανασκαφές (Αρχαιολογία)

Περιέχει σχέδια, βιβλιογραφία και συντομογραφίες, Το άρθρο περιέχεται στο τεύχος: Μέρος Α'-Μελέτες