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THE GOLD AND SILVER VESSELS AND OTHER PRECIOUS FINDS FROM THE THOLOS TOMB AT KOKLA IN THE ARGOLID

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 November 2018

K. Demakopoulou  and
S. Aulsebrook
K. Demakopoulou*
Affiliation:
National Archaeological Museum, Athens
S. Aulsebrook*
Affiliation:
Independent researcher
*
k.demakopoulou@gmail.com; s.aulsebrook@gmx.com
k.demakopoulou@gmail.com; s.aulsebrook@gmx.com
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Abstract

The Late Helladic IIB–IIIA1 tholos in the Kokla necropolis is a particularly important and intriguing tomb that can provide us with interesting insights into the wider social landscape of the Argolid just prior to the emergence of the Mycenaean palaces. Architecturally, the tomb itself is a unique mix of features derived from tholoi and chamber tombs; its entrance is adorned with what must be one of the earliest-surviving Mycenaean frescoes. This tholos tomb had not been looted, a rare phenomenon for such tombs, and the precious finds, that is to say the gold, silver and ivory objects, are presented here in detail. These artworks include both Minoan and Mycenaean influences. The group of metal vessels is significant as it is one of the largest assemblages of metalware found from the post-Shaft Grave period on the Mycenaean Greek mainland. It appears that some of these objects were used for funerary ritual activity in conjunction with the bench in the tholos, whereas other objects seem to have been part of an assemblage of grave-goods. As no human remains were discovered, it is difficult to piece together the sequence of use for the tomb. Nevertheless, the publication of this material from the Kokla tholos is an important contribution to our knowledge of the Argolid during this period.

Χρυσά και αργυρά αγγεία και άλλα πολύτιμα αντικείμενα από τοv Θολωτό Τάφο της Κόκλας στην Αργολίδα

Ο Θολωτός Τάφος της Υστεροελλαδικής ΙΙΒ-ΙΙΙΑ1 περιόδου, που βρέθηκε στη Μυκηναϊκή νεκρόπολη στο χωριό Κόκλα της Αργολίδας, είναι ένας ιδιαίτερα σημαντικός τάφος με ενδιαφέροντα και ιδιότυπα χαρακτηριστικά. Έχει μεγάλη ιστορική σημασία ότι ανήκει στο ευρύτερο κοινωνικό τοπίο της Αργολίδας, λίγο πριν την Ανακτορική περίοδο με την εγκαθίδρυση των Μυκηναϊκών ανακτόρων. Αρχιτεκτονικά, ο τάφος αποτελεί ουσιαστικά συνδυασμό θολωτού και θαλαμωτού τάφου. Η πρόσοψή του έχει διακοσμηθεί με τοιχογραφία, που είναι από τις πρωϊμότερες σωζόμενες Μυκηναϊκές τοιχογραφίες. Ο τάφος βρέθηκε ασύλητος, πράγμα σπάνιο για τους θολωτούς τάφους, και τα πολύτιμα ευρήματά του, χρυσά, ασημένια και ελεφαντοστέινα, παρουσιάζονται στο άρθρο λεπτομερώς. Αυτά τα έργα τέχνης δείχνουν Μινωϊκή και Μυκηναϊκή επιρροή. Η ομάδα των αγγείων από μέταλλο έχει μεγάλη σημασία, επειδή αποτελεί ένα από τα μεγαλύτερα σύνολα έργων μεταλλοτεχνίας, που έχει βρεθεί στην Ηπειρωτική Ελλάδα μετά την εποχή των λακκοειδών τάφων των Ταφικών Κύκλων Α και Β των Μυκηνών. Είναι φανερό ότι μερικά από τα ευρήματα του τάφου, σε συσχέτιση με το θρανίο της θόλου, χρησιμοποιήθηκαν για νεκρικές τελετουργίες, ενώ τα άλλα αποτελούν ένα ενδιαφέρον σύνολο κτερισμάτων. Ταφή κατά χώραν δεν βρέθηκε μέσα στη θόλο, ούτε παραμερισμένα οστά. Αυτό δυσχεραίνει την κατανόηση της αλληλουχίας χρήσης του τάφου. Ωστόσο η δημοσίευση του υλικού από τον Θολωτό Τάφο της Κόκλας είναι μια σημαντική συμβολή στη γνώση μας για την ιστορία της Αργολίδας αυτής της περιόδου.

Type
Articles
Information
Annual of the British School at Athens , Volume 113 , November 2018 , pp. 119 - 142
Copyright
Copyright © The Council, British School at Athens 2018 

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