A FOURTH-CENTURY TOMB AT ARGOS: A CONTRIBUTION TO THE STUDY OF LOCAL POTTERY AND BURIAL CUSTOMS

Abstract

This article deals with the finds from a cist grave which is located in the bed of the River Xerias at Argos. The grave was in use during the fourth century bc for multiple burials, a usual practice for Argive cemeteries. The burials are presented in chronological order based on the interpretation of the excavation data and the chronology of the pottery. The finds from the grave reveal hitherto unknown burial practices at Argos; however, our limited knowledge on the cemeteries of the Late Classical period impedes assessment of them. The study of the vases from the tomb illuminates the otherwise unknown makeup of the local workshops in the fourth century bc, where influences from abroad coexist harmoniously alongside experimentation and novelty.