Reassessing the Function of Grooves in Mycenaean Tombs

Constantina Katsari,P Grigoriadou

doi:10.5334/pia.163

Abstract

Among the Chamber and Tholos Tombs that were built in Greece during the Late Helladic period are some that show a particular feature: a pair of grooves that are carved on the floor of the stomion (a short corridor that leads inside the tomb), leading from the dromos (a long road that leads towards the tomb itself) into the chamber. Archaeologists have suggested a number of explanations regarding their function; however, none of these seems entirely plausible. In this article, we offer a different kind of hypothesis mostly based on architectural evidence. We will suggest that, rather than being related to ritual practices, the grooves were mainly used to facilitate the construction of the graves.

Highlights

During the excavations of ten Mycenaean Chamber and Tholos Tombs (Fig. 1), a particular set of features – a pair of grooves – were uncovered
1950s, Marinatos (1955, 245-255; 1957, 118-120) found similar pairs of grooves in Tholos Tomb 1 (LH I) at Tragana and in Tholos Tomb 1 at Myrsinochori (Routsi). These particular tombs are located in different areas of the Mycenaean world
Dendra and Prosymna are important sites in the northeastern Peloponnese, Tragana and Routsi belong to the south-western Peloponnese, while Thebes is in central Greece

Summary

Introduction

During the excavations of ten Mycenaean Chamber and Tholos Tombs (Fig. 1), a particular set of features – a pair of grooves – were uncovered. At Tholos Tomb Tragana 1 and Chamber Tombs Dendra 8 and Prosymna 44, they are parallel with the doorjambs. In Tomb 9 of Dendra, the right-hand groove widens into a small shaft close to the doorjamb, where some skeletal material, not in association with the first phase of the grave, was found.

Results

Conclusion