THE PREHISTORIC IN GREECE

Hokitika Guardian, 27 August 1927, Page 4

THE PREHISTORIC IN GREECE

i FAMILY TOMBS EXAMINED. 1 A strange custom of dealing with , the dead in prehistoric Greece is shown ’(as the result of excavating thirteen i'j family tombs over 4000 years old. j Repnits received in New York, says '• “Science Service,” show that these ! Bronze Age tombs wore found by an ' | expedition from the Amerieii Sell > ; : of Classical Studi-s at Athens, w.u k- [ ing at the site r- * he famous shr'iio j of the goddess Hera. near Argus. , Each tomb was a kind of family vault, j containing a number of individuals. ■ As each new person was buried the 1 hones 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 j and the archaeologists say that the I 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 heads, buttons, a comb of ivory, a bronze dagger finely inlaid with gold and silver, and an Egyptian scarab of perhaps the Fifteen Centurv B.C. Hie burials represent five successive groups ot people, and are evidence of continuous occupation of tho settlement in tho 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 prehistoric tombs found there indicate that ancient cities and settlements may bo carefully excavated, and muv still conceal unsuspected relics of prehistoric men at deeper levels. Study of such a site may call for the services of archaeologists first who are versed in medieval, then ancient, then prehistoric periods, mild virgin soil is reached-