(96-98 Kifisos Avenue, O.T. 817, VIOCHALKO-METEM AE plot)
Part of a cemetery was discovered on the west bank of Kifisos river in the region of the Municipality of Aigaleo during rescue excavations carried out by the 2nd Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities in 2006-2010. The cemetery was in use from the Prehistoric until the Roman period. Five clusters of geometric graves have been identified, as well as a few isolated geometric burials, dating from the Early until the Late Geometric period. Twenty-nine burials have been discovered in total, out of which 3 at the NW part of the cemetery, 9 at the NE, 10 at the E part, 3 NW of the E part and 4 at the SE part.
Regarding the treatment of the deceased, cremation predominates, while burials inside amphorae (εγχυτρισμοί) and inhumations in pit graves have been also found. Interesting are the two animal burials inside a well (dog and horse) found without their skulls. Burnt human remains were collected in urns (amphorae, pyxis, oinochoe), which were subsequently placed in circular or long, rectangular pits, while in many cases vessels served as lids. Most cremations were accompanied with a variety of objects, mainly vessels and buckles, while in individual cases weaponry items (spearhead, daggers) and a scarab sealstone with hieroglyphic inscription were discovered. Funerary objects were placed inside the urns or in the area around them. Kraters and amphorae had been used as grave markers for some Middle Geometric cremations.
References
Asimakou, Ε. 2010. Αιγάλεω. Λεωφόρος Κηφισού 96-98 (Ο.Τ. 817, οικόπεδο ΒΙΟΧΑΛΚΟ-ΜΕΤΕΜ ΑΕ). Αρχαιολογικόν Δελτίον 65, Β΄1 Χρονικά: 272-276.
Asimakou, Ε. 2023. Γεωμετρικές ταφές από νεκροταφείο στις όχθες του Κηφισού στο Αιγάλεω. Poster in Διεθνές συνέδριο ‘Η Αθήνα και η Αττική κατά την Πρώιμη Εποχή του Σιδήρου και την Αρχαϊκή περίοδο’, 8-11 Δεκεμβρίου, Μουσείο Παύλου και Αλεξάνδρας Κανελλοπούλου.
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki