Pigi Artemidos


Pigi Artemidos is a Bronze Age settlement.

Discovery

During the construction of a national road to Thessaloniki, Pigi Artemidos was discovered. The area of the excavation is about 1000m², it was dug to a depth of 2.50 meters. 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.

Location

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.

Necropolis

A 10-meter 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.

Finds

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 bronze. Among the grave goods was a clay pot in the Mycenaean style. Stone arrowheads and clay weights were used for weaving. The remains of a wall and a building were excavated.

Study

Researchers examined the interaction between the inhabitants of Pigi Artemidos, their environment, and the different burial cultures.
Despite relatively few skeletons, the poor state of preservation and damage to the bones during excavation, human remains were excavated for examination. They were subject to a visual examination and X-rayed. Age assessment was performed by investigating tooth development and measuring certain bones.
The skeletons and teeth studied showed signs of deprivation during growth and development. In addition to bone injuries, people suffered from tooth decay, tartar, tooth loss and arthritis. Joint diseases were common and affected the spine, knees, and feet, suggesting an active lifestyle.
A comparison with nearby Late Bronze Age necropolises, such as Spathes, reveals various forms of burials and a changing funerary culture.

Literature