Ancient burials unearthed in Western Macedonia Greece

The graves of eleven individuals buried together with their domestic animals have been found during the course of rescue excavations carried out at Mavropigi in western Macedonia. 

Horse burial excavated at Mavropigi [Credit: Ethnos]

The findings, dating to the late 6th and early 5th century BC, are significant, say archaeologists, because it is the first time this type of burial has been found on such a scale in Greece. 

"We have found the remains of eleven people and sixteen animals, including horses, dogs, cattle, buffalo and pig," says archaeologist Dr. Georgia Karamitrou. 

"Similar burials have been found in isolation elsewhere in Greece. Men were typically buried with their horses to emphasize their social status. Children's burials have also been discovered along with their pet dogs or turtles. In this case, however, it is ordinary people, ordinary farmers, that have been buried together with their livestock", notes Dr. Karamitrou. 

Three of the women wore bronze bracelets on their forearms and lower limbs [Credit: Ethnos]

Two groups of graves were found at the site. One covered an area of about 100 square metres and comprised of nine cist graves and eight animals - five horses and three dogs. The other had two burials and eight animals - two horses, three dogs, two cows and a pig. 

The animals had been placed around the perimeter of the graves at short distance, approx. 0.50 to 1,30 m. 

The human remains are mostly those of men and women, though a child's grave was also found. An assortment of clay vases, bronze jewelry (bracelets, earrings) and iron weapons (knives, spears) featured among the grave goods recovered. 

Future analysis of the remains is expected to yield important information not only about the social structure of the inhabitants and their culture, but also as to the types of aminals found in Macedonia during the 6th century BC.