Pigi Artemidos

About

During the construction of a national road to Thessaloniki, Pigi Artemidos ( Greek : Πηγή Αρτέμιδος) was discovered. The area of the excavation is about 1,000 m 2 (11,000 sq ft), it was dug to a depth of 2.50 meters (8 ft 2 in). The location was still in use in the classical period, possibly as a farm. Viticulture took place in the Roman period. The excavations lasted from July to December 2009.

Pigi Artemidos is located at the foot of the lower Olympus, between the Castle of Platamon and the source of Athena, west of the highway Athens - Thessaloniki at an altitude of 90 meters (300 ft).

A 10-meter (33 ft) diameter Tumulus is surrounded by stones, holding nine tombs and some separated bones. Another grave lies outside of the tumulus and cannot be dated with accuracy. The graves are arranged around a centrally located plot. A peculiarity of the burial culture of this settlement is that adolescents were buried in simple pits; the tombs of the adults are bordered with stone slabs and partially marked with stones.

The graves contained only a few burial objects, mainly pottery and personal possessions. Three knives, a bracelet, needles, and a spiral earring were found; all made of…