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Part II. The Grave Circle

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 October 2013

Extract

In 1950 and 1952, in view of recent discussions about the date of the Grave Circle, we decided to make some fresh soundings in its supporting wall to see if any fresh evidence could be obtained. In the first year the work was confined to soundings in the battered supporting wall on the south side opposite the north-east corner of the House of the Warrior Vase, and was undertaken by Mr. Kenneth Rowe. In 1952 further soundings were made in the battered supporting wall, the wall at its base on the west was further examined, and a sectional cut was made across the double ring of standing slabs on the north-east side about midway between the entrance and the then surviving cover slabs. The work was then directed by Dr. F. H. Stubbings.

At the time of Schliemann's excavations the western part of the double ring of vertical poros slabs of the Grave Circle, which rests on the battered supporting wall, was in a very ruinous condition. This can be seen clearly in Schliemann's illustration and in the photographs published later. After the close of Schliemann's and Stamatakes' excavations the supporting wall was restored both on the west and on the south, and the western half of the double ring of standing slabs was reconstructed. When Keramopoullos excavated the fallen rock in the centre of the circle the Greek Archaeological Service undertook some further work of conservation.

Type
Mycenae 1939–1953
Copyright
Copyright © The Council, British School at Athens 1954

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References

1 Throughout this article, see the plan and sections in BSA XXV, pls. I, XVII.

2 BSA XXV, pl. I (63); Wace, , Mycenae, pl. 3 (63).Google Scholar

3 See BSA XXV, pl. I (64); Wace, , Mycenae, pl. 3 (64).Google Scholar

4 Mycenae, pl. VII; Ant.Denkmäler II, pls. 46, 47.

5 AE 1918, 52 ff.

6 BSA XXV, pls. I, XV, 103 ff.

7 The large parties of visitors of all nationalities do much damage to the monuments of Mycenae, for they are under no adequate guidance and are apt to clamber about the walls in search of views or suitable spots for photography. This dislodges the loosely packed stones of the prehistoric walls, which then fall into ruin. Further, the constant passing of large bodies of visitors has worn away the poros treads of the grand staircase of the palace and some of the poros foundations of the temple. The preservation of excavated ruins is one of the great problems now before the Greek Archaeological Service and all excavators in Greece. It is a question not of restoration, but of preservation.

8 BSA XXV, pl. I (64); Wace, , Mycenae, pl. 3 (64).Google Scholar

9 BSA XXV, pl. I (63); Wace, , Mycenae, pl. 3 (63).Google Scholar

10 BSA XXV 108.

11 BSA XXV 108.

12 BSA XXV 109.

13 BSA XLVIII 15, n. 22; ProcAmPhilSoc vol. 97, 424.

14 BSA XXV 110 f., pl. XVI b.

15 Wace, , Mycenae 60.Google Scholar

16 Nos. 1110, 1305, unpublished; Wace, , Mycenae 61, n. 5.Google Scholar

17 BSA XXV 357, fig. 76 a = Wace, , Mycenae, pl. 44a (a).Google Scholar

18 BSA XXV, pl. V e; Wace, , Mycenae, pl. 76b.Google Scholar

19 BSA XLVIII 15, n. 22.

20 Ἐπιτύμβιον Χρήστου τσούντα 348, 350.