The “Routsi” site is located on a ridge about 4 km east of the Palace of Nestor and about 1.5 km northeast of the modern settlement “Myrsinochori”. Excavations carried out in the area by Spyridon Marinatos in the 1950s and by Georgios Korres in 1989, brought to light burial tumuli of the Middle Helladic period and two tholos tombs of the Mycenaean period, which were described by Marinatos as ‘princely’ because of the richness of their grave goods.

The Tholos Tomb 1 was found looted but in a relatively good state of preservation since only the upper part of the vault had collapsed. It had been used during the 16th and 15th centuries BC, while burials of the early Byzantine period were found in the dromos (passageway) of the tomb. The vaulted chamber is about 5.5 m in diameter and its stomion (entranceway) was blocked with stones. Inside the chamber were found a reburial, decorated ceramic vessels, a bronze pan-shaped object with remains of an eroded silver vessel and animal bones inside it, gold and silver jewellery. A hoard was also uncovered, containing among other things a bent bronze sword and a bronze crown of the type known from the medieval times. It is decorated with a gold star and is considered to be the oldest bronze crown in Europe.