PREHISTORIC GREECE

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 68, 17 September 1927, Page 20

PREHISTORIC GREECE

FAMTTiY TOMBS EXAMINED,

A strange custom of dealing with the dead in prehistoric Greece is shown as thj result of excavating thirteen family tombs over 4000 years old. Reports received, says "Science Service/ showthat tnese Bronze Age tombs were found by an expedition from the American School of Classical Studies at Athens, working at . the site of the famous shrine of the goddess Hera, near Argos. Each tomb was a kind of family vault, containing a number of individuals. As each new person was buried the bones and belongings of his predecessor were removed to one side, or placed in a small pit dug for the purpose. The most precious possessions of that age are not to be found in the tombs, and the archaeologists say that the graves have not been disturbed by later inhabitants of the region. Hence, it is considered obvious that the burying parties.removed the most desirable objects belonging to their long dead ancestors and relatives, arguing, perhaps, that the dead person had had his share of the family wealth long enough. Among the articles left in the tombs the archaeologists found a warrior's equipment of bronze, weapons, knife, spearheads, cleaver, and an arrowhead. They also unearthed a number of hollow shell, gold beads, buttons, a comb of ivory, a bronze dagger finely inlaid with gold and silver, and an Egyptian scarab of perhaps the Fifteenth Century B.C. The burials represent five successive groups, of people, and are evidence, of continuous occupation .of the settlement in. the Bronze Age. ■

These important finds have been made at a site which was supposedly fully excavated over thirty ■ years ago, and where much information regarding the early Greek religion was obtained. The prehistorical tombs found ■ there indicate that ancient cities and- settlements may be carefully excavated, and may still conceal unsuspected-relics of prehistoric men at deeper levels. Study of such a vsite may call for the services of archaeologists first who are versed in medieval, then ancient, then prehistoric periods, until virgin soil is reached.