Sindos 2000 Overview

Publication of the Archaeological Material
Excavated at Sindos
Aikaterini Despini

The purpose of this application is to request funding towards the publication of the archaeological material excavated under my direction in 1980-1982, on the site of the ancient cemetery at modern Sindos, 20 km west of Thessaloniki (Western Macedonia). The cemetery, which dates to the archaic and classical periods, belonged to the settlement already known to research as the Toumba of Nea Aghialos. The excavation of the entire archaic and classical cemetery was concluded in 1982.

The wealth of the grave offerings, including four life-size gold masks, 360 pieces of gold sheet, and numerous pieces of gold and silver jewelry, suggests the significance of the find, and the importance of the settlement to which the cemetery belonged.

In order to proceed to the final publication of the site, the conservation of the finds must be completed, along with the commission of photography and accompanying drawings. The publication has been scheduled to extend to three volumes:

Sindos I: The Tombs. Description. Matters of morphology and technique. Ancient grave looting. Problems of historical topography. Burial customs.

Sindos II: Grave offerings and the chronology of the tombs: clay vases and figurines, glass, silver, and bronze vessels, armor (shields, helmets, swords, spear-heads), coins.

Sindos III: Gold masks, gold bands and sheets adorning the face or the drapery, jewelry, minor objects (miniature chariots, tables, stools, spits etc). Final conclusions.