Archaeology Magazine - December 1952 - 3

Society. However, the fame of Mycenae leapt skyward
in 1876 when Heinrich
Schliemann
discovered
within the citadel the Grave Circle with five shaft
graves filled with funeral gifts of unsurpassed splendor. Stamatakis'
discovery of the sixth shaft grave
and Tsountas' exploration of the chamber tombs and
of the citadel, crowned by the uncovering of the palace
of the Pelopids, seemed to exhaust the possibilities for
great discoveries at Mycenae.

was being removed a funeral stele (monument) made
its appearance only ten meters to the west of the top
of the tomb and pointed out the existence of a grave
below it. The grave was cleared and proved to be a
shaft grave similar to those found by Schliemann
in
the citadel. A trial excavation, lasting a few days in
January 1952, enabled us to uncover a section of a circular wall that surrounded the area within which the
shaft grave was found. (A report on this by J. Papademetriou will appear in the forthcoming Praktika
early investigations made it possible to de- for 195 1.) Since that grave was not in the center of
Thesetermine the existence on the mainland of Greece the circular area, it became evident that within the area
of a brilliant civilization in the second half of the sec- more graves had to be found. Indeed, all signs pointed
ond millennium, from about 1600 to 1100 b.c., the de- to that fact and with understandable impatience we
waited for the dry season when real excavations could
tails of which were most clearly .set out in Tsountas'
be undertaken. Meanwhile, the discovery of the first
The
discoveries
of
on
the
Mycenaean Age.
monograph
new shaft grave became known and high hopes were
of
in
Professor
Evans
and
those
Arthur
Crete
Sg:
A. J. B. Wace at Mycenae itself have added consider- raised for a renewal of great discoveries at Mycenae.
For not only were
ably to our knowlmore
shaft graves to
of
the
Myceedge
be excavated, but
naean civilization,
also the dean of
which now is as
well known as that
Mycenaean specialof the Archaic peists, Professor
riod of historic
Wace, was to resume his excavaGreece. In our day,
tions at the site in
however, specialists
the
summer.
that
think
to
began
When
in 1876
of
the heroic days
in
found
Grave
bronze
The
3.
A,
dagger
Fig.
Schliemann
disexcavation at Mycea spiral pattern engraved on the blade.
with
covered
and
excanae were over, that
vated the five shaft
great discoveries
in
excavation
methods
the
were in their
finds
indeed
there were a thing of the past. Interesting
citadel,
graves
details
were
and
scientific
were made annually, such as the first inscribed clay infancy. Many
overlooked,
for
the quick possession of
tablet, the house of the oil-merchant, or the rooms accuracy was often sacrificed
valuable
Schliemann's
finds
of
the
northern
on
the
with
vases
objects.
Consequently
city
slope
packed
number
of
and
even
created
a
more
for.
When
to
be
not
finds
were
but
problems
posed
area;
hoped
great
this conception began to crystallize, the old site yielded questions over which archaeologists have been struganother of its buried treasures to upset human calcula- gling for a good many years. The new shaft graves
tions and beliefs. In November 1951, when a shaft offered a great chance for obtaining answers and even
discoveries in their correct
grave was investigated beyond the citadel walls, a for setting Schliemann's
this
fact, the Council of the
perspective. Realizing
bright new era of discovery dawned at Mycenae.
of
Greece, under whose jurisThe new find follows the pattern established in Archaeological Society
Greece by a number of older famous discoveries. The diction the site of Mycenae has remained, decided to
Greek Service for the preservation and restoration of place the excavation in the hands of the Ephor of the
and appointed for the
ancient monuments, under the direction of Professor district, Dr. J. Papademetriou,
A. Orlandos, had restored the dome of the so-called new undertaking an advisory committee composed of
and Sp. Marinatos
Tomb of Clytemnestra. More earth was needed to Professors A. Keramopoullos
cover the stone structure and restore the mound which of the University of Athens and Professor George E.
originally stood over the dome. The surrounding area Mylonas of Washington University, St. Louis, Miscould provide that additional material. As the earth souri. Professor Mylonas took an active part in diWinter 1952

195

Archaeology Magazine - December 1952

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Archaeology Magazine - December 1952