Archaeological Sites

In 1994, an excavation permit was granted for the enhancement of the ancient cemetery on plot number 28 by the Municipality of Ierissos to the then 16th Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities. The project “Protection and enhancement of part of the ancient cemetery of Acanthus in Chalkidiki”, was included in the Operational Program “Macedonia – Thrace (2007-2013)” of the Region of Central Macedonia, which commenced in December 2010 and was completed in July 2013.

The purpose of the project was to reveal and present a small part of the cemetery of ancient Acanthus to the public, which would be preserved in its original location (in situ) and protected with a shell, which would reveal and reinforce its public cultural character by meeting the needs of modern aesthetics in an unobtrusive manner. In order to have an accurate site assessment with a high level of precision, research excavation on the foundations and the construction of the building preceded. Subsequently, investigation of the burials was carried out in the interior. Out of a total of 163 graves that were investigated, 84 are currently on display for the public.

The plot is within the boundaries of the seaside cemetery of the ancient city and the burials were situated in three overlapping levels, beneath a narrow backfill 40-60cm thick. The majority of the burials date from the Archaic to the Hellenistic period. Typologically, the graves are classified according to the known categories previously uncovered in the Akanthos cemetery during the 50 years of excavation. The pit graves (plain or with clay coverings) prevail in numbers, followed by the inhumation in vessels (enchytrismos) and the tile-covered graves, which accommodate child-infant skeletons for the most part. The clay sarcophagi found, either plain, unadorned, or with a relief Ionic wave line on the rim, were relatively poor in grave goods, with the exception of sarcophagus no. 12.922, which accommodated three burials and the number of its grave goods exceeded 26. Pictorial representations were preserved in two of the three sarcophagi, of the so-called Clazomenian type, as well as on the cover of sarcophagus no. 12.927. The pithos burials represent around 5% of all graves and vary in typology and size, with one of the smallest being decorated with a plastic rope band at the level of the shoulder, following the tradition of pithos burials of the neighboring Iron Age cemetery.

The practice of cremation was performed on 20 occasions, either in plain or rectangular pits lined with bricks. The case of burial no. 13.007 is particularly interesting; some of the bones of the deceased were collected in the red-figure pelike which was placed inside the tomb behind the head end.

The grave goods of the specific plot (lekythia, bowls, figurines, jewelry, coins, etc.) are characterized by diversity and are products of local and foreign workshops. A unique find, which also indicates the metaphysical quests of the inhabitants of ancient Acanthus, is a curse tablet (katadesmos), a lead scroll folded and pierced with an iron nail found in the backfilling of burial no. 12.962.

References

Μισαηλίδου-Δεσποτίδου, Β., Νασιώκα, Ο., Νιαούρης, Ι., «Αρχαιολογική έρευνα και ανάδειξη τμήματος του νεκροταφείου της αρχαίας Ακάνθου», Το Αρχαιολογικό Έργο στη Μακεδονία και τη Θράκη 27, σσ. 365-370.