
Tholos tomb Ι at Tragana

Archaeological research on a low hill near the modern village of Tragana brought to light a pair of Mycenaean tholos tombs. The first tholos tomb was mainly used in the 14th century BC and was built in an area that seems to have been inhabited already in the Early Helladic times (3100-2000 BC). At the entrance of the burial chamber, traces of furrows have been preserved, possibly considered to be from a funeral cart. At the same place, a hoard of bronze vessels, compressed weapons, tools, and other small objects was revealed dating to the 14th century BC. Among the finds of the tomb the ones that stand out are three large clay poithoid jars decorated with floral themes, a bronze amphora and a seal with a representation of a winged griffin, which are exhibited in the Archaeological Museum of Chora. The use of the tomb continued during the 12th to 10th century BC. Particularly noteworthy is a 12th century BC clay pyxis with a rare depiction of a sailing warship, now in the National Archaeological Museum in Athens.