Platia Magoula Zarkou is a large Neolithic settlement between Larissa and Trikala. In excavations in 1974 and 1976 by K. Gallis, an organized cemetery was found north of and outside the boundaries of the prehistoric settlement, in which 46 bone depositions with secondary cremation burials were revealed. Based on the finds, the cemetery dates to the beginning of the Late Neolithic (Tsangli phase) (4300-4000 BC). The anthropological study of the bones has been carried out by N. Xirotyris (1982).
The bones, after cremation, were deposited in domestic vases used as urns. The urns were buried standing upright or inverted, often covered by another vase. Burials were accompanied by grave goods (vessels, stone tools, figurines, red sherds) inside or outside the urn. The TEFRA research project will extensively study burnt human remains from 39 bone assemblages (28 urns and 11 various areas of the cemetery).
References
Gallis, Κ. Ι. (1982). Καύσεις Νεκρών από τη Νεολιθική Εποχή στη Θεσσαλία (Athens, Tameio Archaeologikon Poron kai Apalotrioseon)
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki